Litschauer B, Zauchner S, Huemer K H, Kafka-Lützow A
Department of General and Comparative Physiology, University of Vienna, Austria.
Psychosom Med. 1998 Mar-Apr;60(2):219-26. doi: 10.1097/00006842-199803000-00019.
The present study was undertaken to elucidate possible mechanisms underlying sex differences in cardiovascular measures or reactivity to challenge. Because there is vastly diverging literature on the issue, we tried to control for endocrine and psychological factors, which might contribute to some of the apparent discrepancies.
Blood pressure, heart rate, adrenaline, and noradrenaline in women (N = 24) and men (N = 14) were examined during baseline and challenge (Stroop Test and Cold Face Test). Adrenoceptor density on lymphocytes (beta 2) and platelets (alpha 2) were determined to examine possible sex differences in underlying cardiovascular mechanisms. Gender effects were controlled by assessing gender role orientation and task appraisal. Women were tested during either the follicular (N = 12) or the luteal (N = 12) phase of the menstrual cycle (verified by estradiol, progesterone, and luteinizing hormone).
Follicular and luteal phase women did not differ in any parameter except progesterone. We observed sex-related differences in absolute levels of physiological parameters, the male group having higher systolic blood pressure levels, higher adrenaline plasma concentrations, and significantly more alpha 2-adrenergic receptors. Both challenges elicited pronounced cardiovascular and endocrine responses. Men and women did not differ in response magnitude, in task appraisal, or gender role orientation.
The assumption that female sex hormones reduce reactivity to challenge is not supported by our data. The frequently reported male/female differences in reactivity may be caused by an interaction of gender and task characteristics.
本研究旨在阐明心血管测量或对挑战的反应中性别差异潜在的可能机制。由于关于该问题的文献差异极大，我们试图控制可能导致一些明显差异的内分泌和心理因素。
在基线期和挑战期（斯特鲁普测验和冷脸测验）对24名女性和14名男性的血压、心率、肾上腺素和去甲肾上腺素进行检测。测定淋巴细胞（β2）和血小板（α2）上的肾上腺素能受体密度，以检查潜在心血管机制中可能存在的性别差异。通过评估性别角色取向和任务评估来控制性别效应。在月经周期的卵泡期（n = 12）或黄体期（n = 12）对女性进行测试（通过雌二醇、孕酮和促黄体生成素进行验证）。
除孕酮外，卵泡期和黄体期的女性在任何参数上均无差异。我们观察到生理参数的绝对水平存在性别相关差异，男性组的收缩压水平更高、血浆肾上腺素浓度更高，且α2 - 肾上腺素能受体明显更多。两种挑战均引发了明显的心血管和内分泌反应。男性和女性在反应幅度、任务评估或性别角色取向上没有差异。
我们的数据不支持女性性激素会降低对挑战的反应性这一假设。经常报道的反应性方面的男女差异可能是由性别与任务特征的相互作用导致的。
