Sudomotor and vasomotor activity during the menstrual cycle with global heating

Abstract

Many studies have reported that there are changes in sympathetic activity throughout the menstrual cycle as there are oestrogen receptor in the hypothalamus and all other parts of the sympathetic nervous system. The purpose of this study was to see whether there were variations in sympathetic activity, skin vasomotor and sweat gland sudomotor rhythms during the menstrual cycle. Eight young female subjects with a regular menstrual cycle participated in the study. Subjects were tested once during the follicular phase and once during the luteal phase. Skin blood flow and sweat rate were significantly higher in the luteal phase compared with the follicular phase (p < .05), but the frequency and magnitude of sudomotor and vasomotor rhythms were significantly greater in the follicular phase (p < .05). In contrast, spectral data showed less sympathetic activity in the luteal phase. A significant finding here is that the sudomotor rhythm of sweat glands is altered by the menstrual cycle.

Menstrual cycle phase does not modulate whole body heat loss during exercise in hot, dry conditions

“…This has been ascribed to increases in circulating 17␤-estradiol following ovulation that enhance nitric oxide-dependent vasodilation (3,30). Although the present study was performed in a hot, dry environment (i.e., ambient temperature exceeding that of skin temperature), which places a reliance on sweat evaporation to restore heat balance, it is possible that increases in skin blood flow in the midluteal phase (21,31) may translate into comparatively greater blood-borne heat delivery to the skin surface. This may, in turn, be associated with a greater rise in skin temperature and a subsequent reduction in the thermal gradient for dry heat gain from the environment relative to the early-or late-follicular phases.…”

“…Our findings also provide novel insights into the relative contribution of dry and evaporative heat exchange to a given net heat loss across the menstrual cycle as a function of increasing heat load (and therefore heat stress). Several investigators have observed a greater skin blood flow response in the midluteal phase relative to the follicular phase during heat stress (14,21,31). This has been ascribed to increases in circulating 17␤-estradiol following ovulation that enhance nitric oxide-dependent vasodilation (3,30).…”

Remote Photoplethysmography for Evaluation of Cutaneous Sensory Nerve Fiber Function

“…On the other hand, it was interesting to see whether observed effects are manifested in a relatively heterogeneous sample comprising subjects of different sex and age. We believe that the observed inter subject variability is related mostly to the subjects individual differences, such as: age [64], unknown status of former smokers [65], daily use of coffee and beverages [66], level of emotional stress during measurement procedure [67], degree of physical fitness [68] and unknown status of the menstrual cycle in female subjects [69]. Nevertheless, while the size of this preliminary study was not very large, it was sufficient to highlight statistically significant results in a largely heterogeneous group.…”

Differences Between Men and Women in Balance and Tremor in Relation to Plantar Fascia Laxity During the Menstrual Cycle

“…An increase in core and shell temperatures is associated with the latter half of a regular menstrual cycle. [12][13][14] Therefore, both estrogen and core temperature may exert complex effects on ligamentous laxity. 15,16 In women who are not on oral contraceptives or past menopause, estrogen fluctuates throughout the normal menstrual cycle.…”