Altered baroreflex sensitivity in young women with a family history of hypertension.

A positive family history of hypertension (+FH) is a risk factor for the future development of hypertension. Hypertension is associated with reductions in baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). Therefore, we hypothesized that young women with a +FH [ n = 12, 22 ± 1 yr, body mass index (BMI) 21 ± 1 kg/m, mean arterial pressure (MAP) 79 ± 1 mmHg] would have lower BRS compared with young women without a family history of hypertension (-FH) ( n = 13, 22 ± 1 yr, BMI 21 ± 1 kg/m, MAP 77 ± 2 mmHg, all P > 0.

Ovarian hormones modulate endothelin-1 receptor responses in young women.

Objective: We recently demonstrated ETB mediate vasodilation in young but not postmenopausal women; it is unclear if this is related to age or a decline in ovarian hormones. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that ETB responses are modulated by ovarian hormones.

Methods: We measured cutaneous vasodilatory responses in 12 young women (22 ± 1 years, 23 ± 1 kg/m ) during the ML (days 20-25) and EF (days 2-5) phases of the menstrual cycle.

ET receptor contribution to vascular dysfunction in postmenopausal women.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) contributes to age-related endothelial dysfunction in men via the ET receptor. However, there are sex differences in the ET-1 system, and ET receptors are modulated by sex hormones. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that ET receptors contribute to impaired vasodilatory function in postmenopausal women (PMW).