Sex, the brain and hypertension: brain oestrogen receptors and high blood pressure risk factors

2015 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meredith Hay

Hypertension is a major contributor to worldwide morbidity and mortality rates related to cardiovascular disease. There are important sex differences in the onset and rate of hypertension in humans. Compared with age-matched men, premenopausal women are less likely to develop hypertension. However, after age 60, the incidence of hypertension increases in women and even surpasses that seen in older men. It is thought that changes in levels of circulating ovarian hormones as women age may be involved in the increase in hypertension in older women. One of the key mechanisms involved in the development of hypertension in both men and women is an increase in sympathetic nerve activity (SNA). Brain regions important for the regulation of SNA, such as the subfornical organ, the paraventricular nucleus and the rostral ventral lateral medulla, also express specific subtypes of oestrogen receptors. Each of these brain regions has also been implicated in mechanisms underlying risk factors for hypertension such as obesity, stress and inflammation. The present review brings together evidence that links actions of oestrogen at these receptors to modulate some of the common brain mechanisms involved in the ability of hypertensive risk factors to increase SNA and blood pressure. Understanding the mechanisms by which oestrogen acts at key sites in the brain for the regulation of SNA is important for the development of novel, sex-specific therapies for treating hypertension.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryony Goulding Mew ◽  
Darije Custovic ◽  
Eyal Soreq ◽  
Romy Lorenz ◽  
Ines Violante ◽  
...  

AbstractFlexible behaviour requires cognitive-control mechanisms to efficiently resolve conflict between competing information and alternative actions. Whether a global neural resource mediates all forms of conflict or this is achieved within domainspecific systems remains debated. We use a novel fMRI paradigm to orthogonally manipulate rule, response and stimulus-based conflict within a full-factorial design. Whole-brain voxelwise analyses show that activation patterns associated with these conflict types are distinct but partially overlapping within Multiple Demand Cortex (MDC), the brain regions that are most commonly active during cognitive tasks. Region of interest analysis shows that most MDC sub-regions are activated for all conflict types, but to significantly varying levels. We propose that conflict resolution is an emergent property of distributed brain networks, the functional-anatomical components of which place on a continuous, not categorical, scale from domain-specialised to domain general. MDC brain regions place towards one end of that scale but display considerable functional heterogeneity.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuan-Peng Hu ◽  
Yi Huang ◽  
Simon B. Eickhoff ◽  
Kaiping Peng ◽  
Jie Sui

AbstractThe existence of a common beauty is a long-standing debate in philosophy and related disciplines. In the last two decades, cognitive neuroscientists have sought to elucidate this issue by exploring the common neural basis of the experience of beauty. Still, empirical evidence for such common neural basis of different forms of beauty is not conclusive. To address this question, we performed an activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis on the existing neuroimaging studies of beauty appreciation of faces and visual art by non-expert adults (49 studies, 982 participants, meta-data are available at https://osf.io/s9xds/). We observed that perceiving these two forms of beauty activated distinct brain regions: while the beauty of faces convergently activated the left ventral striatum, the beauty of visual art convergently activated the anterior medial prefrontal cortex (aMPFC). However, a conjunction analysis failed to reveal any common brain regions for the beauty of visual art and faces. The implications of these results are discussed.


Hypertension ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin L Grobe ◽  
Kristin E Claflin

Circulating leptin and the local brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS) both contribute to the control of food intake (FI), resting metabolic rate (RMR) and blood pressure (BP), and both have been postulated to contribute to obesity-hypertension. Here we examined the provocative hypothesis that the brain RAS is required for (or mediates) the RMR- and BP-stimulating effects of leptin. To create animals lacking the AT 1A receptor specifically in cells expressing the leptin receptor (“KO”), mice with a flox’ed version of the endogenous angiotensin AT 1A receptor gene (AT 1A flox ) were crossed with mice expressing cre-recombinase via the leptin receptor promoter (ObR-Cre). Body mass, body composition, blood chemistry, glucose tolerance, and FI behaviors were essentially unchanged through 34 weeks of age in mice maintained on standard chow (Teklad 7013). In contrast, anesthetized BP (MAP; control n=9, 91.6 ± 4.1, vs KO n=8, 78.0 ± 3.7 mmHg) and heart rate (351 ± 13, vs 308 ± 11 BPM) were reduced in KO mice (both P<0.05). Further, interscapular brown adipose (BAT SNA, 112 ± 22, vs 22 ± 35 % above baseline at 3 hr) and renal (154 ± 19, vs 53 ± 23 % above baseline at 3 hr) sympathetic nerve activity responses to acute leptin injection (60 μg, i.v.) were completely abolished (both P<0.05). When maintained on a 45% high fat diet (OpenSource D12451 ) to increase endogenous leptin production, KO mice exhibited accelerated body mass (control n=15, -0.1 ± 0.1, vs KO n=4, +1.7 ± 0.5 g/wk) and fat mass (+2.9 ± 0.5, vs +4.9 ± 1.1 g/5 wk) gains (both P<0.05), likely due to normal FI behaviors but a 18% reduction in RMR (control n=16, 0.196 ± 0.011, vs KO n=7, 0.161 ± 0.004 kcal/hr at 30°C, P<0.05). We conclude that expression of angiotensin AT 1A receptors on leptin-sensitive cells is required for the metabolic rate and cardiovascular effects of leptin. Ongoing studies are focused on identifying the brain regions and subsets of leptin receptor-expressing cells in which this RAS-leptin cross-talk occurs, and the directionality and molecular mediators of this interaction. We hypothesize that uncontrolled or pathological activity of the brain RAS may thus help explain the clinically variable effects of leptin, and contribute to the mechanism(s) of selective leptin resistance and obesity-hypertension.


e-CliniC ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline G. Senaen ◽  
Mieke A. H. N Kembuan ◽  
Rizal Tumewah

Abstract: Stroke is a disease of acute neurological deficits caused by brain blood vessel disorder that occurs suddenly and causes symptoms and signs that correspond to the affected brain regions. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is one of the major risk factors of hemorrhagic stroke and ischemic stroke. Hypertension can lead to rupture or narrowing of blood vessels of the brain. This study aimed to identify the profile of stroke patients with hypertension in inpatients of Neurology Department Prof. Dr R. D. Kandou Hospital Manado from July 2013 to June 2014. This was a descriptive retrospective study. In this study, there were 162 patients with stroke who met the inclusion criteria. There were 74 male patients and 88 female patients. Most patients were 55-65 years, had high school education, and were housewives. Most systolic blood pressures were at grade 3 and diastolic hypertension at grade 2. Based on types of stroke, most patients had ischemic stroke.Keywords: gender, age, education, occupation, blood pressure, type of strokeAbstrak: Stroke adalah suatu penyakit defisit neurologis akut yang disebabkan oleh gangguan pembuluh darah otak yang terjadi secara mendadak dan menimbulkan gejala dan tanda yang sesuai dengan daerah otak yang terganggu. Tekanan darah tinggi atau yang dikenal dengan hipertensi merupakan salah satu faktor resiko utama, baik untuk stroke hemoragik maupun stroke iskemik. Hipertensi dapat mengakibatkan pecahnya maupun penyempitan pembuluh darah otak. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui profil penderita stroke dengan hipertensi di Bagian Rawat Inap Neurologi RSUP Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou Manado periode Juli 2013 – Juni 2014. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode retrospektik deskriptif dengan 162 pasien stroke yang memenuhi kriteria inklusi. Pasien stroke berjenis kelamin laki – laki sebanyak 74 dan perempuan 88 orang. Sebagian besar pasien stroke berusia 55 – 65 tahun, pendidikan SMA dan pekerjaan terbanyak ialah ibu rumah tangga. Berdasarkan tekanan sistolik, sebagian besar dengan hipertensi derajat 3 sedangkan berdasarkan tekanan diastolik yaitu hipertensi derajat 2. Berdasarkan jenis stroke terbanyak ialah stroke iskemik.Kata kunci: jenis kelamin, umur, pendidikan, pekerjaan, tekanan darah, jenis stroke


1970 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-42
Author(s):  
Abdur Rahsid ◽  
Md Mofakkurul Islam ◽  
Md Rafiqul Islam

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the common form of coronary heart disease. A large number of modifiable risk factors had been identified. This descriptive study was done to observe selected risk factors among the MI patients admitted in CCU of cardiology department of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital in the month of March to June 2005. Data were collected from 200 patients using a closed end questionnaire. Anterior, inferior and non-Q types of MI occupied the major (25%, 24.5% & 20.5%) portion of study subjects, CK-MB level was high in all MI patients, majority (57.5%) of the patients were smoker & most of them had smoked more than 10 cigarettes per day except Non-Q and antero-septal MI patients. Majority (57%) of the patients had systolic blood pressure (SBP) above 140mmHg but had normal diastolic blood pressure (DBP <90mmHg). Serum cholesterol level was high in all patients but majority (55.5%) had LDL within normal range. Less than half (46%) of the patients were diabetic (RBS >8mmol/l).   doi: 10.3329/taj.v18i1.3302 TAJ 2005; 18(1): 37-42


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 129 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karlijn A Groenewegen ◽  
Sanne A Peters ◽  
Hester M den Ruijter ◽  
Michiel L Bots

Background: Atherosclerotic vascular disease can be assessed non-invasively with B-mode ultrasound. Echolucency is an ultrasound characteristic which is measured as the Gray Scale Median (GSM). Echolucent structures appear dark on ultrasound images; echogenic structures appear light. Echolucency of the carotid intima-media is thought to be a marker of the content of the vascular wall, where low values of GSM might reflect inflammation and/or high lipid content and high values of GSM reflect increased collagen and/or calcifications. In previous studies in asymptomatic individuals, echolucency of the carotid intima-media was associated with cardiovascular risk factors. Studies in high-risk populations are lacking. Aim: To assess the relation between cardiovascular risk factors and carotid intima media echolucency in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia. Methods: Baseline data were used from the RADIANCE 1 trial, a randomized controlled trial on the effects of atorvastatin and torcetrapib (a CETP-inhibitor) compared to atorvastatin alone in familial hypercholesterolemia. Echolucency of the common carotid artery intima media was measured as the mean GSM of the first baseline visit. Linear mixed effects models were used to assess the relation between each cardiovascular risk factor and mean GSM (adjusted for age, sex and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), and in a multivariable model containing all risk factors). We studied systolic blood pressure (SBP), body mass index (BMI), high and low density lipoprotein (HDL and LDL), triglycerides (TGs), smoking, diabetes mellitus and C - reactive protein (CRP). Results: 875 patients were included in the current analysis. Mean age was 46 years (sd 13) and 50% was female. Mean GSM was 67 (sd 18). In age, sex and CIMT adjusted analyses, higher age (ß/sd: -5.71 (95% CI-6.82;-4.61)), female sex (β:-3.53 (95% CI -5.32;-1.73)), higher SBP (β/sd:-1.86 (95% CI -2.81;-0.91)), higher BMI (β/sd:-2.37 (95% CI -2.26;-1.29)) and higher levels of TGs (β/sd:-1.34 (95% CI -2.21;-0.47 were related to a lower GSM (i.e, more echolucency) and smoking (ß 2.91 (95% CI 0.52-5.29)) was related to a higher GSM. In the multivariable model, age (β/sd: -4.92 (95% CI -6.18;-3.65)), female sex (β: -4.35 (-6.41;-2.29), systolic blood pressure (β/sd: -1.32 (-2.38;-0.25) and BMI (β/sd: -1.82 (-2.90;-0.73)) were related to a lower GSM and smoking (β: 2.78 (0.39;5.18)) was related to a higher GSM. Conclusion: Several established risk factors were related to the echolucency of the common carotid intima media in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia.


2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 287-300 ◽  

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a worldwide public health problem typically caused by contact and inertial forces acting on the brain. Recent attention has also focused on the mechanisms of injury associated with exposure to blast events or explosions. Advances in the understanding of the neuropathophysiology of TBI suggest that these forces initiate an elaborate and complex array of cellular and subcellular events related to alterations in Ca(++) homeostasis and signaling. Furthermore, there is a fairly predictable profile of brain regions that are impacted by neurotrauma and the related events. This profile of brain damage accurately predicts the acute and chronic sequelae that TBI survivors suffer from, although there is enough variation to suggest that individual differences such as genetic polymorphisms and factors governing resiliency play a role in modulating outcome. This paper reviews our current understanding of the neuropathophysiology of TBI and how this relates to the common clinical presentation of neurobehavioral difficulties seen after an injury.


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (03) ◽  
pp. 181-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikio Hiura ◽  
Tadashi Nariai ◽  
Muneyuki Sakata ◽  
Akitaka Muta ◽  
Kenji Ishibashi ◽  
...  

AbstractDynamic exercise elicits fluctuations in blood pressure (BP) and cerebral blood flow (CBF). This study investigated responses in BP and CBF during cycling exercise and post-exercise hypotension (PEH) using positron emission tomography (PET). CBF was measured using oxygen-15-labeled water (H2 15O) and PET in 11 human subjects at rest (Rest), at the onset of exercise (Ex1), later in the exercise (Ex2), and during PEH. Global CBF significantly increased by 13% at Ex1 compared with Rest, but was unchanged at Ex2 and during PEH. Compared with at Rest, regional CBF (rCBF) increased at Ex1 (20~42%) in the cerebellar vermis, sensorimotor cortex for the bilateral legs (M1Leg and S1Leg), insular cortex and brain stem, but increased at Ex2 (28~31%) only in the vermis and M1Leg and S1Leg. During PEH, rCBF decreased compared with Rest (8~13%) in the cerebellum, temporal gyrus, piriform lobe, thalamus and pons. The areas showing correlations between rCBF and mean BP during exercise and PEH were consistent with the central autonomic network, including the brain stem, cerebellum, and hypothalamus (R2=0.25–0.64). The present study suggests that higher brain regions are coordinated through reflex centers in the brain stem in order to regulate the cardiovascular response to exercise.


1992 ◽  
Vol 262 (5) ◽  
pp. R865-R871
Author(s):  
J. C. Dunbar ◽  
E. Ergene ◽  
G. F. Anderson ◽  
R. A. Barraco

It has been observed that diabetes results in increased neuropeptide Y (NPY) in various brain regions, especially the paraventricular nucleus, which projects to the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS). Because previous studies indicated a pathophysiological relationship between diabetes and NPY, we investigated the effect of diabetes on the sensitivity of NTS-mediated responses to NPY administration. Rats were made diabetic using streptozocin (55 mg/kg iv) and maintained for 48 to 50 days. Normal and streptozocin-diabetic rats were anesthetized with urethan and alpha-chloralose, instrumented for cardiovascular and respiratory monitoring, and positioned in a stereotaxic apparatus. The brain stem was exposed surgically. NPY (0.15 nmol/kg) was microinjected into the NTS and the cardiovascular and respiratory parameters were monitored for 60 min. Diabetes increased systolic (SAP), diastolic (DAP), and mean (Pa) blood pressure but not pulse pressure (PP) and heart rate (HR). Respiratory parameters were not altered. NPY significantly decreased SAP, DAP, Pa, PP, HR, respiratory rate, and minute volume in normal animals. In diabetic animals, NPY also decreased SAP, DAP, and Pa but pronouncedly increased PP. Although NPY decreased the SAP and Pa in diabetic animals, the response was attenuated compared with normal animals. The respiratory parameters and HR of diabetic animals, unlike normal animals, did not respond to NPY administration. We conclude that chronic diabetes results in a decreased sensitivity to NTS-mediated responses and that the hyporesponsiveness of the NTS to NPY modulation may be important in the tendency toward elevated blood pressure and hypertension in diabetes.


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