Nitric oxide dependent skin aging mechanism in postmenopasal women

The goal of our study was to determine nitric oxide (NO)-dependent mechanisms of skin aging in post- and premenopausal women. 23 women (age 40-50 year) were investigated. Women were divided into 2 groups: I group - reproductive age women (10 patients); II group - menopause age women (13 patients). Patients were included in the menopausal group when they fulfill the following criteria: at least 12 month of amenorrhea. All patients are subjected to a standard diagnostic protocol. In each group we investigated estradiole, lipids and free NO content. Skin of postmenopausal women as a rule was pale, grayish, in some cases revealed pigmentation; skin around the eyes less flexible, wrinkled. Moderate hypercholesterolemia and reduced levels of nitric oxide and estradiole in the blood of studed postmenopausal women (in comparison reproductive aged women) was revealed. Decrease free NO content in blood may be due to the decrease of NO synthesis, as well as the oxidative degradation of NO in the oxidative stress conditions. N artcle the mechanism of dependence of NO-vasodilatative system activity on rhe level of hypercholesterolemia and estrogen content in blood are discussed. It was concluded that in menopausal women insufficiency of estrogen's content is the main factor, which stipulates insufficiency of of NO-dependent vasodilatative mechanism, and disorder of subcutaneous vasodilatation in aged (postmenopausal) women which contributes to violations of the oxidative processes in the skin and its rapid aging.