Estrogen supplementation attenuates glucocorticoid and catecholamine responses to mental stress in perimenopausal women

Estrogens are reported to provide protection against the development of cardiovascular disease in women, but the mechanisms underlying these effects are not well defined. We hypothesized that estrogen might affect the hormonal responses to stress. We therefore studied cortisol, ACTH, epinephrine, no...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 1999-02, Vol.84 (2), p.606-610
Main Authors: KOMESAROFF, P. A, ESLER, M. D, SUDHIR, K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - blood
Biological and medical sciences
Blood Flow Velocity
Blood Pressure
Catecholamines - blood
Epinephrine - blood
Estradiol - administration & dosage
Estradiol - analogs & derivatives
Estradiol - blood
Estradiol - therapeutic use
Female
Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood
Forearm - blood supply
Functional investigation of endocrine glands and genital system
Glucocorticoids - blood
Heart Rate
Humans
Hydrocortisone - blood
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Medical sciences
Menopause - physiology
Middle Aged
Norepinephrine - blood
Stress, Psychological - blood
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Summary:Estrogens are reported to provide protection against the development of cardiovascular disease in women, but the mechanisms underlying these effects are not well defined. We hypothesized that estrogen might affect the hormonal responses to stress. We therefore studied cortisol, ACTH, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and norepinephrine spillover and hemodynamic responses to a 10-min mental arithmetic test in 12 perimenopausal women randomized to 8 weeks of estrogen supplementation (estradiol valerate, 2 mg daily; n = 7) or placebo (n = 5). Total body and forearm norepinephrine spillover were measured by radiotracer methodology. After supplementation with estradiol, the increases in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in response to mental stress were reduced, and cortisol, ACTH, plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine, and total body norepinephrine spillover responses to stress were significantly attenuated (P < 0.05 in each case). Forearm norepinephrine spillover was unchanged by estrogen, and there was no change in any of the responses after placebo. We conclude that estrogen supplementation in perimenopausal women attenuates blood pressure, glucocorticoid, and catecholamine responses to psychological stress.
ISSN:0021-972X
1945-7197
DOI:10.1210/jc.84.2.606