Evidence against a role for ovarian hormones in the regulation of blood flow.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of ovarian hormone deficiency on peripheral vascular function.


METHODS
Randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled.


METHODS
General clinical research center.


METHODS
Twelve healthy, lean, premenopausal women with regular menstrual cycles.


METHODS
Measurements were made during the early to midfollicular and midluteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Patients were then randomized to an 8-week course of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) (n = 6) or placebo (n = 6) and retested. On each occasion, blood flow was assessed in the basal postabsorptive state and under euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic-hyperaminoacidemic conditions.


METHODS
Calf blood flow by venous occlusion plethysmography.


RESULTS
No differences in calf blood flow under postabsorptive (1.65 +/- 0.09 vs. 1.73 +/- 0.16 mL/100 g tissue per minute) or insulin-stimulated conditions (2.24 +/- 0.20 vs. 2.30 +/- 0.18 mL/100 g tissue per minute) were found between the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle, respectively; therefore, pretreatment data were averaged. Ovarian hormone suppression did not alter postabsorptive calf blood flow (GnRHa: 1.68 +/- 0.13 to 1.69 +/- 0.15; placebo: 1.69 +/- 0.21 to 1.64 +/- 0.14 mL/100 g tissue per minute) or the blood flow response to insulin infusion (GnRHa: 2.40 +/- 0.21 to 2.37 +/- 0.29; placebo: 2.10 +/- 0.28 to 2.19 +/- 0.35 mL/100 g tissue per minute).


CONCLUSIONS
Variation in ovarian hormones associated with the menstrual cycle or short-term ovarian hormone deficiency induced by GnRHa do not affect calf blood flow under postabsorptive conditions or the response to hyperinsulinemia.
Cooper
Brian C
BC
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA.
Sites
Cynthia K
CK
Fairhurst
Penny A
PA
Toth
Michael J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000378:metabolism; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D010991:Plethysmography; D019518:Postprandial Period; D012016:Reference Values; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D000596:Amino Acids; D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D006728:Hormones; D007328:Insulin; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone