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Alewel DI, Kodavanti UP. Neuroendocrine contribution to sex-related variations in adverse air pollution health effects. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART B, CRITICAL REVIEWS 2024:1-28. [PMID: 39075643 DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2024.2383637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Air pollution exposure is ranked as a leading environmental risk factor for not only cardiopulmonary diseases but also for systemic health ailments including diabetes, reproductive abnormalities, and neuropsychiatric disorders, likely mediated by central neural stress mechanisms. Current experimental evidence links many air pollution health outcomes with activation of neuroendocrine sympathetic-adrenal-medullary and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) stress axes associated with resultant increases in adrenal-derived hormone levels acting as circulating mediators of multi-organ stress reactions. Epidemiological and experimental investigations also demonstrated sex-specific responses to air pollutant inhalation, which may be attributed to hormonal interactions within the stress and reproductive axes. Sex hormones (androgens and estrogens) interact with neuroendocrine functions to influence hypothalamic responses, subsequently augmenting stress-mediated metabolic and immune changes. These neurohormonal interactions may contribute to innate sex-specific responses to inhaled irritants, inducing differing individual susceptibility. The aim of this review was to: (1) examine neuroendocrine co-regulation of the HPA axis by gonadal hormones, (2) provide experimental evidence demonstrating sex-specific respiratory and systemic effects attributed to air pollutant inhalation exposure, and (3) postulate proposed mechanisms of stress and sex hormone interactions during air pollution-related stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devin I Alewel
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Research Participation Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Urmila P Kodavanti
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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Persaud P, Belfry GR, Heath M. Menstrual cycle status does not impact exercise-based changes in cerebral blood flow or executive function benefits. J Sports Sci 2024:1-11. [PMID: 39052669 DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2024.2382566] [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: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
A single bout of exercise enhances executive function (EF) and may relate to an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF). A limitation in the current literature is that biologically female participants are underrepresented given some evidence that changes in hormone levels across the menstrual cycle impact physiological and psychological variables. Here, biologically female participants completed separate single bouts of moderate intensity exercise (80% of estimated lactate threshold) during the follicular (FOL) and luteal (LUT) phases of their menstrual cycle. In addition, biologically male participants completed a same duration/intensity exercise session. Middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv) was used to estimate CBF and pre- and postexercise EF was assessed via the antisaccade task. Results showed that resting MCAv was larger in the LUT than FOL phase; however, the exercise-mediated increase in MCAv was equivalent between menstrual cycle phases, and between female and male participants. Antisaccade reaction times reliably decreased from pre- to postexercise and frequentist and non-frequentist statistics demonstrated that the magnitude of the decrease was equivalent across FOL and LUT phases, and between female and male participants. Thus, results evince that menstrual cycle status should not serve as a basis limiting biologically female participants' inclusion in research examining exercise and EF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Persaud
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Glen R Belfry
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Matthew Heath
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
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Panerai RB, Davies A, Clough RH, Beishon LC, Robinson TG, Minhas JS. The effect of hypercapnia on the directional sensitivity of dynamic cerebral autoregulation and the influence of age and sex. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2024; 44:272-283. [PMID: 37747437 PMCID: PMC10993882 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x231203475] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
The cerebral circulation responds differently to increases in mean arterial pressure (MAP), compared to reductions in MAP. We tested the hypothesis that this directional sensitivity is reduced by hypercapnia. Retrospective analysis of 104 healthy subjects (46 male (44%), age range 19-74 years), with five minute recordings of middle cerebral blood velocity (MCAv, transcranial Doppler), non-invasive MAP (Finometer) and end-tidal CO2 (capnography) at rest, during both poikilocapnia and hypercapnia (5% CO2 breathing in air) produced MCAv step responses allowing estimation of the classical Autoregulation Index (ARIORIG), and corresponding values for both positive (ARI+D) and negative (ARI-D) changes in MAP. Hypercapnia led to marked reductions in ARIORIG, ARI+D and ARI-D (p < 0.0001, all cases). Females had a lower value of ARIORIG compared to males (p = 0.030) at poikilocapnia (4.44 ± 1.74 vs 4.74 ± 1.48) and hypercapnia (2.44 ± 1.93 vs 3.33 ± 1.61). The strength of directional sensitivity (ARI+D-ARI-D) was not influenced by hypercapnia (p = 0.46), sex (p = 0.76) or age (p = 0.61). During poikilocapnia, ARI+D decreased with age in females (p = 0.027), but not in males. Directional sensitivity was not affected by hypercapnia, suggesting that its origins are more likely to be inherent to the mechanics of vascular smooth muscle than to myogenic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronney B Panerai
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester, UK
- NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, BHF Cardiovascular Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK
| | - Aaron Davies
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester, UK
| | - Rebecca H Clough
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester, UK
| | - Lucy C Beishon
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester, UK
| | - Thompson G Robinson
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester, UK
- NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, BHF Cardiovascular Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK
| | - Jatinder S Minhas
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester, UK
- NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, BHF Cardiovascular Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK
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Skinner BD, Lucas RAI, Lucas SJE. Exposure to passive heat and cold stress differentially modulates cerebrovascular-CO 2 responsiveness. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2024; 136:23-32. [PMID: 37969086 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00494.2023] [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: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Heat and cold stress influence cerebral blood flow (CBF) regulatory factors (e.g., arterial CO2 partial pressure). However, it is unclear whether the CBF response to a CO2 stimulus (i.e., cerebrovascular-CO2 responsiveness) is maintained under different thermal conditions. This study aimed to compare cerebrovascular-CO2 responsiveness between normothermia, passive heat, and cold stress conditions. Sixteen participants (8 females; 25 ± 7 yr) completed two experimental sessions (randomized) comprising normothermic and either passive heat or cold stress conditions. Middle and posterior cerebral artery velocity (MCAv, PCAv) were measured during rest, hypercapnia (5% CO2 inhalation), and hypocapnia (voluntary hyperventilation to an end-tidal CO2 of 30 mmHg). The linear slope of the cerebral blood velocity (CBv) response to changing end-tidal CO2 was calculated to measure cerebrovascular-CO2 responsiveness, and cerebrovascular conductance (CVC) was used to examine responsiveness independent of blood pressure. CBv-CVC-CO2 responsiveness to hypocapnia was greater during heat stress compared with cold stress (MCA: +0.05 ± 0.08 cm/s/mmHg/mmHg, P = 0.04; PCA: +0.02 ± 0.02 cm/s/mmHg/mmHg, P = 0.002). CBv-CO2 responsiveness to hypercapnia decreased during heat stress (MCA: -0.67 ± 0.89 cm/s/mmHg, P = 0.02; PCA: -0.64 ± 0.62 cm/s/mmHg; P = 0.01) and increased during cold stress (MCA: +0.98 ± 1.33 cm/s/mmHg, P = 0.03; PCA: +1.00 ± 0.82 cm/s/mmHg; P = 0.01) compared with normothermia. However, CBv-CVC-CO2 responsiveness to hypercapnia was not different between thermal conditions (P > 0.08). Overall, passive heat, but not cold, stress challenges the maintenance of cerebral perfusion. A greater cerebrovascular responsiveness to hypocapnia during heat stress likely reduces an already impaired cerebrovascular reserve capacity and may contribute to adverse events (e.g., syncope).NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrates that thermoregulatory-driven perfusion pressure changes, from either cold or heat stress, impact cerebrovascular responsiveness to hypercapnia. Compared with cold stress, heat stress poses a greater challenge to the maintenance of cerebral perfusion during hypocapnia, challenging cerebrovascular reserve capacity while increasing cerebrovascular-CO2 responsiveness. This likely exacerbates cerebral hypoperfusion during heat stress since hyperthermia-induced hyperventilation results in hypocapnia. No regional differences in middle and posterior cerebral artery responsiveness were found with thermal stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany D Skinner
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Rebekah A I Lucas
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel J E Lucas
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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Wright ME, Murphy K. A mini-review of the evidence for cerebrovascular changes following gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy and a call for increased focus on cerebrovascular transgender health. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1303871. [PMID: 38077183 PMCID: PMC10702528 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1303871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy (gaHRT) is an important step for many in the gender diverse community, associated with increased quality-of-life and lower self-reported scores of depression and anxiety. However, considering the interactions that the involved sex hormones have on vasculature (with oestrogen and testosterone demonstrating vasodilatory and vasoconstricting properties, respectively), it is important for transgender healthcare research to examine how the manipulation of these hormones interact with cerebrovascular structure and functioning. There is a stark lack of research in this area. This mini-review outlines the research suggesting a vascular impact of these sex hormones using evidence from a range of cohorts (e.g., menopause, polycystic ovary syndrome) and discusses the work that has been done into cerebrovascular changes following gaHRT. Finally, recommendations for future research into cerebrovascular health in transgender cohorts following gaHRT are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Emily Wright
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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Carr JMJR, Day TA, Ainslie PN, Hoiland RL. The jugular venous-to-arterial P C O 2 ${P_{{\mathrm{C}}{{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$ difference during rebreathing and end-tidal forcing: Relationship with cerebral perfusion. J Physiol 2023; 601:4251-4262. [PMID: 37635691 DOI: 10.1113/jp284449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
We examined two assumptions of the modified rebreathing technique for the assessment of the ventilatory central chemoreflex (CCR) and cerebrovascular CO2 reactivity (CVR), hypothesizing: (1) that rebreathing abolishes the gradient between the partial pressures of arterial and brain tissue CO2 [measured via the surrogate jugular venousP C O 2 ${P_{{\mathrm{C}}{{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$ and arterialP C O 2 ${P_{{\mathrm{C}}{{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$ difference (Pjv-a CO2 )] and (2) rebreathing eliminates the capacity of CVR to influence the Pjv-a CO2 difference, and thus affect CCR sensitivity. We also evaluated these variables during two separate dynamic end-tidal forcing (ETF) protocols (termed: ETF-1 and ETF-2), another method of assessing CCR sensitivity and CVR. Healthy participants were included in the rebreathing (n = 9), ETF-1 (n = 11) and ETF-2 (n = 10) protocols and underwent radial artery and internal jugular vein (advanced to jugular bulb) catheterization to collect blood samples. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound was used to measure middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv). The Pjv-a CO2 difference was not abolished during rebreathing (6.2 ± 2.6 mmHg; P < 0.001), ETF-1 (9.3 ± 1.5 mmHg; P < 0.001) or ETF-2 (8.6 ± 1.4 mmHg; P < 0.001). The Pjv-a CO2 difference did not change during the rebreathing protocol (-0.1 ± 1.2 mmHg; P = 0.83), but was reduced during the ETF-1 (-3.9 ± 1.1 mmHg; P < 0.001) and ETF-2 (-3.4 ± 1.2 mmHg; P = 0.001) protocols. Overall, increases in MCAv were associated with reductions in the Pjv-a CO2 difference during ETF (-0.095 ± 0.089 mmHg cm-1 s-1 ; P = 0.001) but not during rebreathing (-0.028 ± 0.045 mmHg · cm-1 · s-1 ; P = 0.067). These findings suggest that, although the Pjv-a CO2 is not abolished during any chemoreflex assessment technique, hyperoxic hypercapnic rebreathing is probably more appropriate to assess CCR sensitivity independent of cerebrovascular reactivity to CO2 . KEY POINTS: Modified rebreathing is a technique used to assess the ventilatory central chemoreflex and is based on the premise that the rebreathing method eliminates the difference between arterial and brain tissueP C O 2 ${P_{{\mathrm{C}}{{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$ . Therefore, rebreathing is assumed to isolate the ventilatory response to central chemoreflex stimulation from the influence of cerebral blood flow. We assessed these assumptions by measuring arterial and jugular venous bulbP C O 2 ${P_{{\mathrm{C}}{{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$ and middle cerebral artery blood velocity during modified rebreathing and compared these data against data from another test of the ventilatory central chemoreflex using hypercapnic dynamic end-tidal forcing. The difference between arterial and jugular venous bulbP C O 2 ${P_{{\mathrm{C}}{{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$ remained present during both rebreathing and end-tidal forcing tests, whereas middle cerebral artery blood velocity was associated with theP C O 2 ${P_{{\mathrm{C}}{{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$ difference during end-tidal forcing but not rebreathing. These findings offer substantiating evidence that clarifies and refines the assumptions of modified rebreathing tests, enhancing interpretation of future findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay M J R Carr
- Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Trevor A Day
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Philip N Ainslie
- Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Ryan L Hoiland
- Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, Canada
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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