Endothelial dysfunction influences augmented aortic hemodynamic responses to metaboreflex activation in postmenopausal women

Mauricio A Martinez; Katherine N Dillon; Yejin Kang; Arun Maharaj; Stephen M Fischer; Arturo Figueroa

doi:10.1007/s00421-024-05476-5

Endothelial dysfunction influences augmented aortic hemodynamic responses to metaboreflex activation in postmenopausal women

Eur J Appl Physiol. 2024 Apr 12. doi: 10.1007/s00421-024-05476-5. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Mauricio A Martinez¹, Katherine N Dillon¹, Yejin Kang¹, Arun Maharaj^{1

2}, Stephen M Fischer¹, Arturo Figueroa³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, Texas Tech University, 3204 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA.
² Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA.
³ Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, Texas Tech University, 3204 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA. arturo.figueroa@ttu.edu.

PMID: 38607608
DOI: 10.1007/s00421-024-05476-5

Abstract

Purpose: Postmenopausal women experience augmented aortic hemodynamic responses to isometric handgrip (IHG) exercise and metaboreflex activation post-exercise muscle ischemia (PEMI). Relationships between endothelial function brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and aortic stiffness carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) with aortic pulsatile hemodynamics during IHG and PEMI have not been determined. The relationships between aortic hemodynamic responses to PEMI were evaluated.

Methods: Aortic blood pressure (BP), wave reflection, and pressure of forward (Pf) and backward (Pb) waves were measured using arterial tonometry at rest, IHG at 30% maximal force, and PEMI in 30 (15/group) postmenopausal women with low (≤ 4.5%) and normal (≥ 5.5%) FMD. Hemodynamic responses were analyzed as the change (Δ) from rest to the last minute of IHG and PEMI.

Results: Brachial and aortic systolic BP (SBP) responses to IHG were higher in the low vs normal FMD group (P < 0.05). Aortic SBP (Δ20 ± 8 vs Δ11 ± 7 mmHg), pulse pressure (PP) (Δ12 ± 8 vs Δ6 ± 4 mmHg), augmented pressure (AP) (Δ5 ± 3 vs Δ2 ± 2 mmHg), and Pb (Δ6 ± 4 vs Δ3 ± 2 mmHg) responses to PEMI were greater (P < 0.05) in women with low vs. normal FMD. FMD was negatively correlated with aortic SBP, PP, AP, and Pb (P < 0.05) responses to PEMI. cfPWV was not correlated with responses to PEMI.

Conclusion: Endothelial dysfunction relates to augmented aortic pulsatile load during metaboreflex activation, which may increase cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women.

Keywords: Aging; Arterial stiffness; Autonomic nervous system; Endothelial function; Exercise blood pressure; Exercise pressor reflex; Hypertension.