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Gender affects sympathetic and hemodynamic response to postural stressWe tested the hypothesis that differences in sympathetic reflex responses to head-up tilt (HUT) between males (n = 9) and females (n = 8) were associated with decrements in postural vasomotor responses in women. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA; microneurography), heart rate, stroke volume (SV; Doppler), and blood pressure (Finapres) were measured during a progressive HUT protocol (5 min at each of supine, 20 degrees, 40 degrees, and 60 degrees ). MSNA and hemodynamic responses were also measured during the cold pressor test (CPT) to examine nonbaroreflex neurovascular control. SV was normalized to body surface area (SV(i)) to calculate the index of cardiac output (Q(i)), and total peripheral resistance (TPR). During HUT, heart rate increased more in females versus males (P < 0.001) and SV(i) and Q(i) decreased similarly in both groups. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) increased to a lesser extent in females versus males in the HUT (P < 0.01) but increases in TPR during HUT were similar. MSNA burst frequency was lower in females versus males in supine (P < 0.03) but increased similarly during HUT. Average amplitude/burst increased in 60 degrees HUT for males but not females. Both males and females demonstrated an increase in MAP as well as MSNA burst frequency, mean burst amplitude, and total MSNA during the CPT. However, compared with females, males demonstrated a greater neural response (DeltaTotal MSNA) due to a larger increase in mean burst amplitude (P < 0.05). Therefore, these data point to gender-specific autonomic responses to cardiovascular stress. The different MSNA response to postural stress between genders may contribute importantly to decrements in blood pressure control during HUT in females.
Document ID
20040088705
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Shoemaker, J. K.
(School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 3K7)
Hogeman, C. S.
Khan, M.
Kimmerly, D. S.
Sinoway, L. I.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology
Volume: 281
Issue: 5
ISSN: 0363-6135
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: R01-AG-12227
CONTRACT_GRANT: K24-HL-04011
CONTRACT_GRANT: M01-RR10732
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Non-NASA Center
NASA Discipline Musculoskeletal

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