Sex Differences In Exercise-induced Diaphragmatic Fatigue In Endurance-trained Athletes

There is evidence that female athletes may be more susceptible to exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia and expiratory flow limitation and have greater increases in operational lung volumes during exercise relative to men. These pulmonary limitations may ultimately lead to greater levels of diaphragmatic fatigue in women. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to determine whether there are sex differences in the prevalence and severity of exercise-induced diaphragmatic fatigue in 38 healthy endurance-trained men ( n = 19; maximal aerobic capacity = 64.0 ± 1.9 ml·kg−1·min−1) and women ( n = 19; maximal aerobic capacity = 57.1 ± 1.5 ml·kg−1·min−1). Transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) was calculated as the difference between gastric and esophageal pressures. Inspiratory pressure-time products of the diaphragm and esophagus were calculated as the product of breathing frequency and the Pdi and esophageal pressure time integrals, respectively. Cervical magnetic stimulation was used to measure potentiated Pdi twitches (Pdi,tw) before and 10, 30, and 60 min after a constant-load cycling test performed at 90% of peak work rate until exhaustion. Diaphragm fatigue was considered present if there was a ≥15% reduction in Pdi,tw after exercise. Diaphragm fatigue occurred in 11 of 19 men (58%) and 8 of 19 women (42%). The percent drop in Pdi,tw at 10, 30, and 60 min after exercise in men ( n = 11) was 30.6 ± 2.3, 20.7 ± 3.2, and 13.3 ± 4.5%, respectively, whereas results in women ( n = 8) were 21.0 ± 2.1, 11.6 ± 2.9, and 9.7 ± 4.2%, respectively, with sex differences occurring at 10 and 30 min ( P < 0.05). Men continued to have a reduced contribution of the diaphragm to total inspiratory force output (pressure-time product of the diaphragm/pressure-time product of the esophagus) during exercise, whereas diaphragmatic contribution in women changed very little over time. The findings from this study point to a female diaphragm that is more resistant to fatigue relative to their male counterparts.

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Network analysis of the left anterior descending coronary arteries in swim-trained rats by an in situ video microscopic technique

Biology of Sex Differences ◽

10.1186/s13293-021-00379-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Marianna Török ◽

Petra Merkely ◽

Anna Monori-Kiss ◽

Eszter Mária Horváth ◽

Réka Eszter Sziva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Resistance Artery ◽

Frequency Spectra ◽

Stress Markers ◽

Lv Mass ◽

Network Properties ◽

Exercise Induced ◽

And Function

Abstract Background We aimed to identify sex differences in the network properties and to recognize the geometric alteration effects of long-term swim training in a rat model of exercise-induced left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. Methods Thirty-eight Wistar rats were divided into four groups: male sedentary, female sedentary, male exercised and female exercised. After training sessions, LV morphology and function were checked by echocardiography. The geometry of the left coronary artery system was analysed on pressure-perfused, microsurgically prepared resistance artery networks using in situ video microscopy. All segments over > 80 μm in diameter were studied using divided 50-μm-long cylindrical ring units of the networks. Oxidative-nitrative (O-N) stress markers, adenosine A2A and estrogen receptor (ER) were investigated by immunohistochemistry. Results The LV mass index, ejection fraction and fractional shortening significantly increased in exercised animals. We found substantial sex differences in the coronary network in the control groups and in the swim-trained animals. Ring frequency spectra were significantly different between male and female animals in both the sedentary and trained groups. The thickness of the wall was higher in males as a result of training. There were elevations in the populations of 200- and 400-μm vessel units in males; the thinner ones developed farther and the thicker ones closer to the orifice. In females, a new population of 200- to 250-μm vessels appeared unusually close to the orifice. Conclusions Physical activity and LV hypertrophy were accompanied by a remodelling of coronary resistance artery network geometry that was different in both sexes.

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Sex differences in exercise induced left ventricular dysfunction in patients with syndrome X.

Heart ◽

10.1136/hrt.57.3.232 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 57 (3) ◽

pp. 232-236 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

L Favaro ◽

J L Caplin ◽

J J Fettiche ◽

D S Dymond

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Left Ventricular Dysfunction ◽

Ventricular Dysfunction ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Syndrome X ◽

Exercise Induced

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Sex Differences in Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction in Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17197270 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (19) ◽

pp. 7270

Author(s):

Daniel Enrique Rodriguez Bauza ◽

Patricia Silveyra

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Female Athletes ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Sexually Dimorphic ◽

Atopic Status ◽

Management Plans ◽

Disease Experience ◽

Males And Females ◽

Male Sex ◽

Exercise Induced

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is a common complication of athletes and individuals who exercise regularly. It is estimated that about 90% of patients with underlying asthma (a sexually dimorphic disease) experience EIB; however, sex differences in EIB have not been studied extensively. With the goal of better understanding the prevalence of EIB in males and females, and because atopy has been reported to occur at higher rates in athletes, in this study, we investigated sex differences in EIB and atopy in athletes. A systematic literature review identified 60 studies evaluating EIB and/or atopy in post-pubertal adult athletes (n = 7501). Collectively, these studies reported: (1) a 23% prevalence of EIB in athletes; (2) a higher prevalence of atopy in male vs. female athletes; (3) a higher prevalence of atopy in athletes with EIB; (4) a significantly higher rate of atopic EIB in male vs. female athletes. Our analysis indicates that the physiological changes that occur during exercise may differentially affect male and female athletes, and suggest an interaction between male sex, exercise, and atopic status in the course of EIB. Understanding these sex differences is important to provide personalized management plans to athletes with underlying asthma and/or atopy.

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