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Giersch GEW, Charkoudian N. Regulation of body temperature and blood pressure in women: Mechanisms and implications for heat illness risk. Exp Physiol 2024. [PMID: 38607298 DOI: 10.1113/ep091455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Increasing global temperatures due to ongoing climate change phenomena have resulted in increased risk of exertional heat illness in otherwise healthy, young individuals who work or play in the heat. With increasing participation of women in athletic, military and industrial activities that involve exertion in the heat, there is a growing need to study female physiology in this context. Mechanisms controlling blood pressure and body temperature have substantial overlap in humans, largely due to autonomic mechanisms which contribute to both. Similarly, illnesses that result from excessive heat exposure can often be traced back to imbalances in one or more of these autonomic mechanisms. In recent years, there has been increased recognition of the importance of sex as a biological variable for basic and applied research in these areas. The goal of this paper is to present an update on the integrative physiology and pathophysiology of responses to heat stress in women (thermoregulation and blood pressure regulation). In this context, it is often the case that differences between sexes are presented as 'advantages' and 'disadvantages' of one sex over the other. In our opinion, this is an over-simplification of the physiology which ignores the nuances and complexities of the integrative physiology of responses to heat exposure and exercise, and their relevance for practical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nisha Charkoudian
- US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, Massachusetts, USA
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Senefeld JW, Hunter SK. Hormonal Basis of Biological Sex Differences in Human Athletic Performance. Endocrinology 2024; 165:bqae036. [PMID: 38563597 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqae036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Biological sex is a primary determinant of athletic human performance involving strength, power, speed, and aerobic endurance and is more predictive of athletic performance than gender. This perspective article highlights 3 key medical and physiological insights related to recent evolving research into the sex differences in human physical performance: (1) sex and gender are not the same; (2) males and females exhibit profound differences in physical performance with males outperforming females in events and sports involving strength, power, speed, and aerobic endurance; (3) endogenous testosterone underpins sex differences in human physical performance with questions remaining on the roles of minipuberty in the sex differences in performance in prepubescent youth and the presence of the Y chromosome (SRY gene expression) in males, on athletic performance across all ages. Last, females are underrepresented as participants in biomedical research, which has led to a historical dearth of information on the mechanisms for sex differences in human physical performance and the capabilities of the female body. Collectively, greater effort and resources are needed to address the hormonal mechanisms for biological sex differences in human athletic performance before and after puberty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathon W Senefeld
- Department of Health and Kinesiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Sandra K Hunter
- Exercise Science Program, Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA
- Athletic and Human Performance Research Center, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA
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Solleiro Pons M, Bernert L, Hume E, Hughes L, Williams ZJ, Burnley M, Ansdell P. No sex differences in oxygen uptake or extraction kinetics in the moderate or heavy exercise intensity domains. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2024; 136:472-481. [PMID: 38205552 PMCID: PMC11213575 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00429.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The integrative response to exercise differs between sexes, with oxidative energy contribution purported as a potential mechanism. The present study investigated whether this difference was evident in the kinetics of oxygen uptake (V̇o2) and extraction (HHb + Mb) during exercise. Sixteen adults (8 males, 8 females, age: 27 ± 5 yr) completed three experimental visits. Incremental exercise testing was performed to obtain lactate threshold and V̇o2peak. Subsequent visits involved three 6-min cycling bouts at 80% of lactate threshold and one 30-min bout at a work rate of 30% between the lactate threshold and power at V̇o2peak. Pulmonary gas exchange and near-infrared spectroscopy of the vastus lateralis were used to continuously sample V̇o2 and HHb + Mb, respectively. The phase II V̇o2 kinetics were quantified using monoexponential curves during moderate and heavy exercise. Slow component amplitudes were also quantified for the heavy-intensity domain. Relative V̇o2peak values were not different between sexes (P = 0.111). Males achieved ∼30% greater power outputs (P = 0.002). In the moderate- and heavy-intensity domains, the relative amplitude of the phase II transition was not different between sexes for V̇o2 (∼24 and ∼40% V̇o2peak, P ≥ 0.179) and HHb + Mb (∼20 and ∼32% ischemia, P ≥ 0.193). Similarly, there were no sex differences in the time constants for V̇o2 (∼28 s, P ≥ 0.385) or HHb + Mb (∼10 s, P ≥ 0.274). In the heavy-intensity domain, neither V̇o2 (P ≥ 0.686) or HHb + Mb (P ≥ 0.432) slow component amplitudes were different between sexes. The oxidative response to moderate- and heavy-intensity exercises did not differ between males and females, suggesting similar dynamic responses of oxidative metabolism during intensity-matched exercise.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrated no sex differences in the oxidative response to moderate- and heavy-intensity cycling exercise. The change in oxygen uptake and deoxyhemoglobin were modeled with monoexponential curve fitting, which revealed no differences in the rate of oxidative energy provision between sexes. This provides insight into previously reported sex differences in the integrative response to exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Solleiro Pons
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Lina Bernert
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Emily Hume
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Luke Hughes
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Zander J Williams
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Burnley
- School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Ansdell
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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Nuzzo JL, Deaner RO. Women and men report unequal interest in participating in exercise research. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2024; 136:53-55. [PMID: 38127872 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00813.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- James L Nuzzo
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Robert O Deaner
- Psychology Department, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan, United States
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James JJ, Klevenow EA, Atkinson MA, Vosters EE, Bueckers EP, Quinn ME, Kindy SL, Mason AP, Nelson SK, Rainwater KAH, Taylor PV, Zippel EP, Hunter SK. Reply to Nuzzo and Deaner: "Investigator bias" is a potent influence on the underrepresentation of women research participants in biomedical research. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2024; 136:56-57. [PMID: 38127871 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00862.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica J James
- Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Athletic and Human Performance Research Center, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Emilie A Klevenow
- Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Athletic and Human Performance Research Center, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Mira A Atkinson
- Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Athletic and Human Performance Research Center, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Emma E Vosters
- Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Athletic and Human Performance Research Center, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Elizabeth P Bueckers
- Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Athletic and Human Performance Research Center, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Meagan E Quinn
- Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Athletic and Human Performance Research Center, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Samantha L Kindy
- Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Athletic and Human Performance Research Center, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Azara P Mason
- University School of Milwaukee, River Hills, Wisconsin, United States
| | | | | | | | | | - Sandra K Hunter
- Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Athletic and Human Performance Research Center, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
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