TY - GEN
T1 - A restrospective analysis on gender differences in the arterial stiffness response to microgravity exposure
AU - Tuday, Eric C.
AU - Platts, Steven H.
AU - Nyhan, Daniel
AU - Shoukas, Artin A.
AU - Berkowitz, Dan E.
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - Several studies indicate that the incidence of orthostatic intolerance (OI) among female astronauts is significantly higher than compared to their male counterparts. Our lab has previously demonstrated that astronauts who are orthostatically tolerant after spaceflight develop an increase in central arterial stiffness during spaceflight. We hypothesize that the arterial stiffness of female astronauts does not increase, or increases insufficiently, during spaceflight. This may explain, in part, the gender difference in the incidence of OI. We explored this hypothesis by using previously collected hemodynamic data from astronauts as well as from subjects subjected to -6° head-down tilt bedrest. Female astronauts had a non-significant decrease in arterial stiffness following spaceflight (0.08 ± 0.066 mmHg/ml N=11, P=0.2405) in contrast, male astronauts demonstrated a significant increase in arterial stiffness (0.10 ± 0.04 mmHg/ml N=46, P=0.0145). Female bedrest subjects had an insignificant increase in arterial stiffness during bedrest, (0.17±0.059 mmHg/ml, p=0.0973, N=3); however, it was not as great as the increase in arterial stiffness developed by the male subjects (0.33±0.056 mmHg/ml, p=0.01, N=4). Thus, it is apparent that there is a gender difference in the arterial stiffness response to microgravity exposure. This gender-based differential arterial stiffness response may explain, in part, the disparity of microgravityinduced OI incidence between the genders.
AB - Several studies indicate that the incidence of orthostatic intolerance (OI) among female astronauts is significantly higher than compared to their male counterparts. Our lab has previously demonstrated that astronauts who are orthostatically tolerant after spaceflight develop an increase in central arterial stiffness during spaceflight. We hypothesize that the arterial stiffness of female astronauts does not increase, or increases insufficiently, during spaceflight. This may explain, in part, the gender difference in the incidence of OI. We explored this hypothesis by using previously collected hemodynamic data from astronauts as well as from subjects subjected to -6° head-down tilt bedrest. Female astronauts had a non-significant decrease in arterial stiffness following spaceflight (0.08 ± 0.066 mmHg/ml N=11, P=0.2405) in contrast, male astronauts demonstrated a significant increase in arterial stiffness (0.10 ± 0.04 mmHg/ml N=46, P=0.0145). Female bedrest subjects had an insignificant increase in arterial stiffness during bedrest, (0.17±0.059 mmHg/ml, p=0.0973, N=3); however, it was not as great as the increase in arterial stiffness developed by the male subjects (0.33±0.056 mmHg/ml, p=0.01, N=4). Thus, it is apparent that there is a gender difference in the arterial stiffness response to microgravity exposure. This gender-based differential arterial stiffness response may explain, in part, the disparity of microgravityinduced OI incidence between the genders.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=66949146471&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=66949146471&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:66949146471
SN - 9789292212278
T3 - European Space Agency, (Special Publication) ESA SP
BT - Proceedings of the Symposium Life in Space for Life on Earth
T2 - Life in Space for Life on Earth
Y2 - 22 June 2008 through 27 July 2008
ER -