Sex-specific peculiarities of cholinergic regulation of the cardiovascular system in normal and hypertensive rats.

Cardiovascular sensitivity to atropine and acetylcholine is reduced in renal hypertension. Hypertension in females is more benign and the hypotensive effects of acetylcholine in them are less attenuated than in males. Cardiovascular sensitivity to cholinergic effects in females is higher in health and hypertension, which improves their resistance to cardiovascular pathology.