title: Exercise vasodilation is greater in women: contributions of nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We hypothesized exercise vasodilation would be greater in women due to nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX) signaling.
  
  
  METHODS
  45 healthy adults (23 women, W, 22 men, M, 26 ± 1 years) completed two 10-min trials of dynamic forearm exercise at 15 % intensity. Forearm blood flow (FBF; Doppler ultrasound), arterial pressure (brachial catheter), and forearm lean mass were measured to calculate relative forearm vascular conductance (FVCrel) = FBF 100 mmHg(-1) 100 g(-1) lean mass. Local intra-arterial infusion of L-NMMA or ketorolac acutely inhibited NOS and COX, respectively. In Trial 1, the first 5 min served as control exercise (CON), followed by 5 min of L-NMMA or ketorolac over the last 5 min of exercise. In Trial 2, the remaining drug was infused during 5-10 min, to achieve combined NOS-COX inhibition (double blockade, DB).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Are mean ± SE. Women exhibited 29 % greater vasodilation in CON (ΔFVCrel, 19 ± 1 vs. 15 ± 1, p = 0.01). L-NMMA reduced ΔFVCrel (p < 0.001) (W: Δ -2.3 ± 1.3 vs. M: Δ -3.7 ± 0.8, p = 0.25); whereas, ketorolac modestly increased ΔFVCrel (p = 0.04) similarly between sexes (W: Δ 1.6 ± 1.1 vs. M: Δ 2.0 ± 1.6, p = 0.78). DB was also found to be similar between the sexes (p = 0.85).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data clearly indicate women produce a greater exercise vasodilator response. Furthermore, contrary to experiments in animal models, these data are the first to demonstrate vascular control by NOS and COX is similar between sexes.
authors.affiliation: Bruno Balke Biodynamics Lab, Department of Kinesiology, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1141A Natatorium, 2000 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA, kellawan@wisc.edu.
authors.forename: J Mikhail
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kellawan
authors.forename: Rebecca E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Harrell
authors.forename: Joshua J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sebranek
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Marlowe W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Eldridge
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Schrage
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D020910:Ketorolac / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D020910:Ketorolac
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