Disentangling the Effects of Daily Stress, Sleep, and Sex Hormones on Accelerated Vascular Aging in Midlife Women
University of Delaware
Summary
The purpose of this study is to identify the impact of estradiol (E2) on the associations between (a) responsivity to daily stress or (b) sleep variability with vascular function in midlife premenopausal women.
Description
In the last 20 years, deaths due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) have increased by up to 30% in midlife women. This increase in CVD risk in midlife women is at least partially explained by the declines in estradiol (E2) that occur across the menopausal transition. This loss of E2 induces vascular dysfunction, a major contributor to increased CVD risk. Nevertheless, we have shown that declines in vascular function are evident in some midlife premenopausal women, suggesting that vascular dysfunction-associated CVD risk cannot solely be explained by the loss of E2. Emerging factors that may help…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 40–55 years
- Sex
- Female
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Female * Age 40-55 * Premenopausal Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy (including a positive urine pregnancy test), planning to become pregnant, or breast-feeding * Peri- or post-menopausal * Unstable or diagnosed chronic clinical disease, including cardiovascular, metabolic, renal, hepatic, autonomic, autoimmune, or dermatological disease * Current or lifetime major psychiatric illness (e.g., major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, eating disorders) * History of hysterectomy (complete or partial), polycystic ovary syndrome, endometrial hyperplasia, irr…
Interventions
- Drugganirelix acetate
Ganirelix acetate (Antagon) will be used to prevent endogenous production of ovarian hormones in young women. Ganirelix is derived from native GnRH, and acts by competitively blocking GnRH receptors on the pituitary and subsequent pathways. Thus, administration of the GnRH antagonist (GnRHant) suppresses steroidogenesis, leading to low or undetectable serum estrogen and progesterone concentrations, which occurs within two days of initiation of administration. Women will self-administer subcutaneous injections (0.25 mg/day in 0.5 ml of normal saline) of the GnRH antagonist ganirelix acetate (Antagon, Organon, Inc., West Orange, New Jersey,) every day for \~12-15 days (starting on day \~2-4 of the menstrual cycle). Testing will occur on day 3-4 and day14-15 of using Antagon.
Location
- University of DelawareNewark, Delaware