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Updated: Mar 3, 2026
08:41
Assessment of Vascular Tone Responsiveness using Isolated Mesenteric Arteries with a Focus on Modulation by Perivascular Adipose Tissues
Published on: June 3, 2019
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ETB receptor contribution to vascular dysfunction in postmenopausal women
Megan M Wenner1, Kelly N Sebzda2, Andrew V Kuczmarski2
1Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware; and mwenner@udel.edu.
Summary
Endothelin B (ETB) receptors aid vasodilation in young women but are lost after menopause. Postmenopausal women exhibit impaired vasodilation due to a loss of ETB-mediated dilation, impacting vascular function.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Endocrinology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Endothelin-1 (ET-1) contributes to age-related endothelial dysfunction in men via the ETA receptor.
- Sex differences exist in the ET-1 system, with ETB receptors modulated by sex hormones.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that ETB receptors contribute to impaired vasodilatory function in postmenopausal women (PMW).
Main Methods:
- Measured flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and cutaneous nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation in young women (YW) and PMW.
- Utilized cutaneous microdialysis with ETB (BQ-788) and ETA (BQ-123) receptor antagonists.
- Calculated cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) and expressed as % of maximal dilation (%CVCmax).
Main Results:
- PMW showed lower FMD and cutaneous vasodilation compared to YW (P < 0.05).
- ETB receptor blockade decreased vasodilation in YW but increased it in PMW (P < 0.05).
- ETA receptor blockade had minimal effect in YW but increased vasodilation in PMW (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- ETB receptors mediate vasodilation in YW, but this function is lost postmenopause.
- Impaired vasodilatory function in PMW is partly due to the loss of ETB-mediated dilation.
- Findings highlight sex-specific roles of endothelin receptors in vascular aging.
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