Short Term Estradiol Administration Does Not Restore Endothelin-B Receptor-Mediated Vasodilation in Postmenopausal Women.

The endothelin-B receptor (ETR) mediates vasodilation in young women, an effect that is absent in postmenopausal women. We have previously demonstrated that ETR-mediated vasodilation is regulated by estradiol (E) in young women; however, the impact of E on ETR function in postmenopausal women remains unknown. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that E exposure restores ETR-mediated dilation in postmenopausal women.

Characterizing vascular and hormonal changes in women across the life span: a cross-sectional analysis.

Vascular dysfunction, marked by lower endothelial function and increased aortic stiffness, is a nontraditional risk factor that precedes the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the age at which these changes in vascular function occur in women and the degree to which reproductive hormones mediate these changes has not been characterized. Women free from major disease were enrolled across the adult life span (aged 18-70 yr, = 140).

Sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity is enhanced in postmenopausal women.

The sympathetic nervous system is critical for regulating blood pressure (BP) via the arterial baroreflex and sympathetic transduction in the peripheral vasculature. These mechanisms interact, and both may be altered with aging and impacted by menopause. Although age-related decreases in sympathetic transduction have been demonstrated in women, it remains unclear whether sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) is impaired in postmenopausal women (POST).

ET receptor-mediated vasodilation is regulated by estradiol in young women.

The endothelin-B (ET) receptor is a key regulator of vascular endothelial function in women. We have previously shown that the ET receptor mediates vasodilation in young women, an effect that is lost after menopause. However, the direct impact of changes in estradiol (E) on ET receptor function in women remains unclear.