Biophysical and endocrine-metabolic changes during menopausal hot flashes: increase in plasma free fatty acid and norepinephrine levels.
Thermocutaneous, vascular, metabolic and hormonal changes were investigated during 11 hot flashes from 6 postmenopausal women. The first detectable change was an increase in finger blood flow with a concomitant enhancement of skin conductance. The increase in skin conductance was followed rapidly by a sharp rise in finger temperature. The main endocrine-metabolic changes associated with the above phenomena were a sharp increase in plasma free fatty acids (approximately 65%), norepinephrine (approximately 100%) and LH (approximately 20%) levels. Plasma glucose and cortisol tended to be increased but did not reach statistical significance; on the other hand, plasma insulin, glucagon, growth hormone, epinephrine and dopamine remained unchanged.
Cignarelli
M
M
Chair of Clinical Medicine III, State University of Bari, Italy.
Cicinelli
E
E
Corso
M
M
Cospite
M R
MR
Garruti
G
G
Tafaro
E
E
Giorgino
R
R
Schonauer
S
S
D000328:Adult; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005483:Flushing / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood*
D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D009638:Norepinephrine