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Chronic Depressive Symptoms and Gender: Impact on Conduit Vascular Outcomes
Author(s) -
Stanley Shyla C,
Butcher Joshua T,
Frisbee Stephanie J,
D'Audiffret Alexandre C,
Frisbee Jefferson C
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.1136.10
Subject(s) - dilator , methacholine , medicine , chronic stress , endocrinology , psychology , respiratory disease , lung
Chronic depressive symptoms have become recognized as independent risk factors for vascular disease, we investigated the impact of chronic stress/depressive symptoms on vascular outcomes between genders using an establish model from behavioral research. Male and female mice were exposed to 8 weeks of unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS; e.g., wet bedding, predator sound/smell, random disruption of light/dark cycle) and indexes of depressive behavior (e.g., coat status, grooming, mobility) were exacerbated in females vs. males. However, dilator responses to methacholine were more strongly impaired in aortic rings of UCMS males than females (p<0.05). NOS inhibition was without effect in UCMS males, while blunting reactivity in UCMS females (p<0.05). COX inhibition impaired dilator responses of UCMS males, but only affected UCMS females at higher concentrations of methacholine. Combined NOS/COX blockade abolished methacholine reactivity. Endothelium‐independent dilator responses were not different across all groups. These results suggest that UCMS impairs vascular function, the severity of which is gender‐dependent. The severity of induced depressive symptoms was not indicative of poorer vascular outcomes. In conclusion, while female mice exhibited increased susceptibility to UCMS‐induced depressive symptoms, they maintained superior vascular function versus male counterparts.