ACUTE ESTRADIOL AND PROGESTERONE ADMINISTRATION REDUCED CARDIOVASCULAR AND CATECHOLAMINE RESPONSES TO MENTAL STRESS IN MENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Steroid hormones are involved in the regulation of sympathoadrenal act ivity. Since the effect of sex steroids on the cardiovascular system a nd catecholamine secretion could also be exerted through an acute, non genomic mechanism, we have studied the response to mental stress (colo r word test, CWT) in a group of 15 menopausal women during estrogen (1 00 mu g of estradiol by patch), progesterone (100 mg i.m.) or placebo administration. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) increased during CWT in the three sessions (F = 11.0, p < 0.001) but the area under the curve of SEP was higher during placebo (2,855 +/- 131 mm Hg.min) than during estradiol (2,585 +/- 139 mm Hg.min) and progesterone (2,553 +/- 179 m m Hg.min, p < 0.05 for both). Plasma epinephrine increased during CWT in the three sessions (F = 31.1, p < 0.001) and the plasma epinephrine response to mental stress was higher during placebo than during estra diol administration (F = 4.3, p < 0.01). The area under the curve of e pinephrine was 10,342 +/- 1,348 pmol/min.l during placebo and 7,280 +/ - 818 pmol/min.l during estradiol (p < 0.03). The plasma glycerol leve ls at the end of CWT were higher during placebo (0.26 +/- 0.04 nmol/l) than during estradiol (0.19 +/- 0.03 mmol/l) and progesterone (0.17 /- 0.04 mmol/l) administration (p < 0.05 for both). No significant dif ferences were found in the responses of diastolic blood pressure, hear t rate, norepinephrine and cortisol to mental stress during placebo an d estradiol or progesterone administration. This study demonstrates th at acute steroid administration is able to modify the cardiovascular a nd catecholamine response to mental stress in menopausal women.