Effects of the menstrual cycle on sympathetic neural responses to mental stress in humans
Key result
During the final 5 minutes of recovery from mental stress, muscle sympathetic nerve activity remained elevated in the mid-luteal phase (delta 6 +/- 1 bursts/min; P<0.01) but not the early follicular phase.
Why the study?
Does the menstrual cycle phase affect sympathetic neural responses to mental stress in healthy females?
Population
11 healthy females
Comparison
Mental stress during the mid-luteal phase of the… vs Mental stress during the early follicular phase…
Design
Other
Authors
Discussion
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Implication
Mid-luteal phase may prolong sympathetic recovery from mental stress; leaves open whether this modulates cardiovascular risk in premenopausal women.
Key Points
- This study investigates how the menstrual cycle affects sympathetic nerve activity during mental stress and recovery in females.
- Examined 11 healthy females during early follicular and mid-luteal phases of the menstrual cycle.
- Measured muscle sympathetic nerve activity, mean arterial pressure, and heart rate responses to mental arithmetic stress.
- Assessed resting values and responses during and after mental stress.
- Mental stress significantly increased MSNA, MAP, and HR during both EF and ML phases (P < 0.05).
- No differences in resting MSNA, MAP, or HR between EF and ML phases were observed.
- MSNA recovery was prolonged in the ML phase compared to the EF phase during the last 5 minutes (P < 0.01).
Study Design
Type
Observational (n=11)
Structured PICO
Does the menstrual cycle phase affect sympathetic neural responses to mental stress in healthy females?
P
Population
11 young, healthy females evaluated during the early follicular and mid-luteal phases of the menstrual cycle.
E
Exposure
Mental stress (via mental arithmetic) during the mid-luteal (ML) phase of the menstrual cycle
C
Comparator
Mental stress (via mental arithmetic) during the early follicular (EF) phase of the menstrual cycle
O
Outcome
Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR) responses to mental stress and recoverysurrogate
Main Result
p-value: p=<0.01
The menstrual cycle phase does not alter sympathetic responses during mental stress, but the mid-luteal phase is associated with prolonged sympathetic activation during recovery.
Cite This Study
Carter et al. (2007) conducted an observational in Healthy (n=11). Mid-luteal phase vs. Early follicular phase was evaluated on Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) response during recovery from mental stress (p=<0.01). During the final 5 minutes of recovery from mental stress, muscle sympathetic nerve activity remained elevated in the mid-luteal phase (delta 6 +/- 1 bursts/min; P<0.01) but not the early follicular phase.