Influence of estradiol supplementation on neuropeptide Y neurotransmission in skeletal muscle arterioles of F344 rats.

The effects of estradiol on neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurotransmission in skeletal muscle resistance vessels have not been described. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of long-term estradiol supplementation on NPY overflow, degradation, and vasoconstriction in gastrocnemius first-order arterioles of adult female rats. Female rats (4 mo; n = 34) were ovariectomized (OVX) with a subset (n = 17) receiving an estradiol pellet (OVE; 17β-estradiol, 4 μg/day).