Journal article
Sex-related differences in rapid-onset vasodilation: impact of aging
Journal of applied physiology (1985), Vol.130(1), pp.206-214
01/01/2021
DOI: 10.1152/JAPPLPHYSIOL.00663.2020
PMCID: PMC7944924
PMID: 33119464
Abstract
Rapid-onset vasodilation (ROV) in response to a single muscle contraction is attenuated with aging. Moreover, sex-related differences in muscle blood flow and vasodilation during dynamic exercise have been observed in young and older adults. The purpose of the present study was to explore if sex-related differences in ROV exist in young (
= 36, 25 ± 1 yr) and older (
= 32, 66 ± 1 yr) adults. Subjects performed single forearm contractions at 10%, 20%, and 40% maximal voluntary contraction. Brachial artery blood velocity and diameter were measured with Doppler ultrasound, and forearm vascular conductance (mL·min
·100 mmHg
) was calculated from blood flow (mL·min
) and mean arterial pressure (mmHg) and used as a measure of ROV. Peak ROV was attenuated in women across all relative intensities in the younger and older groups (
< 0.05). In a subset of subjects with similar absolute workloads (∼5 kg and ∼11 kg), age-related differences in ROV were observed among both women and men (
< 0.05). However, only older women demonstrated an attenuated peak ROV compared with men (91 ± 6 vs. 121 ± 11 mL·min
·100 mmHg
,
< 0.05), a difference not observed in the young group (134 ± 8 vs. 154 ± 11 mL·min
·100 mmHg
,
= 0.15). Additionally, examining the slope of peak ROV across contraction intensities indicated a blunted response in older women compared with their younger counterparts (
< 0.05), with no differences observed between older and young men (
= 0.38). Our data suggest that sex-related differences in the rapid vasodilatory response to single muscle contractions exist in older but not young adults, such that older women have a blunted response compared with older men.
While rapid-onset vasodilation (ROV) has been shown to decrease in older individuals, it is unclear if sex contributes to the decline with aging. We sought to identify if sex-related differences exist in the ROV response to single forearm contractions in young and older adults. Our data suggest sex-related differences are present among older but not young individuals, with women having an attenuated response. These data indicate sex plays a role in decreased vasodilation with aging.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Sex-related differences in rapid-onset vasodilation: impact of aging
- Creators
- Brady E Hanson - University of IowaMichael J Joyner - Mayo ClinicDarren P Casey - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of applied physiology (1985), Vol.130(1), pp.206-214
- DOI
- 10.1152/JAPPLPHYSIOL.00663.2020
- PMID
- 33119464
- PMCID
- PMC7944924
- ISSN
- 8750-7587
- eISSN
- 1522-1601
- Grant note
- R35 HL139854 / NHLBI NIH HHS HL-139854 / NHLBI NIH HHS HL-46493 / NHLBI NIH HHS U54 TR001013 / NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR000135 / NCATS NIH HHS HL-105467 / NHLBI NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/01/2021
- Academic Unit
- Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9984294959002771
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