title: Rapid changes of flow-mediated dilatation after surgical menopause.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Estrogen acts directly on endothelial nitric oxide synthase through a non-genomic mechanism, resulting in rapid dilatation of blood vessels. In this study, we examined the change of endothelial function after surgical menopause.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 20 subjects who underwent gynecological operations (ovariectomy (OVX) 12, sham (SHAM) operation 8), postoperative changes of flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery were examined using ultrasonography. Postoperative changes of the response to nitroglycerin (NTG) were also studied in these patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the OVX group, significant decreases of FMD were observed 1 week after the operation, although no changes were observed in the response to NTG. In the SHAM group, no remarkable changes of FMD or the response to NTG were observed after the operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OVX influences endothelium-dependent vasodilatation within as little as 1 week. Therefore, it may be important to address the rapid changes of circulation after surgical menopause in order to prevent cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Osaka, Japan. masa@gyne.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masahide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohmichi
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kanda
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hisamoto
authors.forename: Ken-ichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morishige
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Kenjiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: Ryoko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Minekawa
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tasaka
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Murata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011184:Postoperative Period; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005996:Nitroglycerin