Sex-Specific Cardiovascular Adaptations to Simulated Microgravity in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Men and women have different cardiovascular responses to spaceflight; however few studies have focused on direct comparisons between sexes. Therefore, we investigated cardiovascular system differences, including arterial stiffness between socially and sexually mature 20-week-old male and female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats exposed to hindlimb unloading (HLU) - an analogue for spaceflight-induced microgravity. Two weeks of HLU had no effect on body weight in either male or female rats. The index of arterial stiffness determined by ultrasound, pulse wave velocity (PWV), was greater in the aortic arch and carotid artery of females after HLU versus control females. HLU had no effect on arterial PWV in males. smooth muscle actin, myosin, collagen, elastin, and collagen-to-elastin ratio were not different in rats of either sex in response to HLU. HLU exposure did not alter individual collagen fiber characteristics in studied groups. The levels of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) were lower in the aorta of SD females exposed to HLU compared with female controls but not in males. These changes were associated with lower PPAR {gamma} and increased oxidative stress markers (8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and p47phox) in the females. Diastolic cardiac function was altered in females after HLU versus control females. GPER agonist, G1 prevented the increase in pulse wave velocity and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine, without altering PPAR {gamma} or p47phox. Our data revealed that lower GPER in the HLU females contributes to the development of arterial stiffness, and that the SD rat is a suitable model to study the cardiovascular response of females to HLU.