Modulation of vascular tone control under isometric muscular stress: role of estrogen receptors.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate isometric muscle contraction (handgrip) changes on key elements of cardiac afterload, before and after raloxifene administration in postmenopausal women.


RESULTS
12 postmenopausal and 12 fertile women were studied. Postmenopausal women underwent raloxifene administration (60 mg/day for 30 days). We evaluated vascular reactivity in superficial palmar arterial arch during handgrip in postmenopausal women before and after (M+R) drug administration, and in controls. Blood flow was higher after raloxifene administration (p<0.05). Mean arterial pressure (MAP)/mean arterial flow (Fmed) and arterial pulse pressure (APP)/systolic maximum arterial flow (Fmax syst) were lower after raloxifene administration (p<0.001). Systolic blood pressure (SBP)/R-R ratio was higher in postmenopausal women than in the controls and M+R (p<0.01). End-handgrip systolic and diastolic blood pressure were higher in patients before raloxifene administration than in controls (p<0.001); diastolic and mean arterial pressure reduced after raloxifene administration (p<0.001). End-effort APP/Fmax syst-ratio before treatment was higher than baseline (p<0.05). Controls and no-treated patients showed a MAP/Fmed ratio at end-handgrip higher than M+R group and rest (p<0.05). Handgrip reduced R-R interval and increased SBP/R-R ratio were shown in all groups (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Raloxifene reduced the vascular effects of isometric muscle contraction by modulating the vasomotor tone of peripheral vessels in relation to exercise.
Section of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, School of Medicine, Policlinico, Bari, Italy. ciccone@cardio.uniba.it
Marco Matteo
MM
Ciccone
Pietro
P
Scicchitano
Francesca
F
Cortese
Michele
M
Gesualdo
Annapaola
A
Zito
Maria
M
Tesorio
Piero
P
Guida
Annamaria
A
Papagni
Antonio
A
Federici
Ettore
E
Cicinelli
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055815:Young Adult
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride