BIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS OF ARTERIAL STIFFENING WITH AGE AND ESTROGEN

该子项目是利用 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源。子项目和 研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金， 因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。列出的机构是 中心，不一定是研究者的机构。 心血管疾病（CVD）是女性的头号杀手。 绝经后，女性患心脏病的风险更高，可能是由于雌激素的损失。 一个潜在的原因是雌激素水平的下降已被证明会导致心脏周围的动脉硬化。 这种动脉硬化导致心脏工作更加努力，并可能导致高血压和动脉粥样硬化的发展。 这项研究的目的是找出雌激素的损失如何导致动脉硬化。 我们将探讨的一种解释是氧化应激的产生，氧化应激是可以损害体内细胞和组织的分子。 我们将探讨的另一种解释是动脉扩张功能的丧失。 我们希望这些初步的数据将能够帮助我们了解女性绝经期雌激素的损失如何导致CVD的发展。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one killer in women. After menopause, women have a higher risk for heart disease possibly due to the loss of estrogen. One potential reason for this is that decreasing levels of estrogen have been shown to cause arteries surrounding the heart to stiffen . This stiffening of the arteries causes the heart to work harder and can lead to the development of high blood pressure and atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study is to find out how the loss of estrogen causes arteries to stiffen. One explanation that we will explore is the production of oxidative stress which are molecules that can damage cells and tissues in the body. Another explanation that we will explore is the loss of functioning of the arteries to dilate. We hope that these preliminary data will be able to help our understanding as to how the loss of estrogen as women go through menopause may contribute to the development of CVD.