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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 91/2/465    most recent expphysiol.2005.032011v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hayashi, K. Articles by Mesaki, N. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hayashi, K. Articles by Mesaki, N.

¹ Institute for Human Science and Biomedical Engineering, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8566, Japan² Division of Health Promotion and Exercise, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo 162-8636, Japan³ Department of Health and Sports Sciences, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, 288 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0193, Japan⁴ Department of Health Sciences, Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts, 2640 Tsurajima, Kurashiki, Okayama 712-8505, Japan⁵ Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8574, Japan

The effect of menstrual cycle phase on arterial elasticity is controversial. In 10 healthy women (20.6 ± 1.5 years old, mean ±S.D.), we investigated the variations in central and peripheral arterial elasticity, blood pressure (carotid and brachial), carotid intima–media thickness (IMT), and serum oestradiol and progesterone concentrations at five points in the menstrual cycle (menstrual, M; follicular, F; ovulatory, O; early luteal, EL; and late luteal, LL). Carotid arterial compliance (simultaneous ultrasound and applanation tonometry) varied cyclically, with significant increases from the values seen in M (0.164 ± 0.036 mm² mmHg^–1) and F (0.171 ± 0.029 mm² mmHg^–1) to that seen in the O phase (0.184 ± 0.029 mm² mmHg^–1). Sharp declines were observed in the EL (0.150 ± 0.033 mm² mmHg^–1) and LL phases (0.147 ± 0.026 mm² mmHg^–1; F= 8.51, P < 0.05). Pulse wave velocity in the leg (i.e. peripheral arterial stiffness) did not exhibit any significant changes. Fluctuations in carotid arterial elasticity correlated with the balance between oestradiol and progesterone concentrations. No significant changes were found in carotid and brachial blood pressures, carotid artery lumen diameter, or IMT throughout the menstrual cycle. These data provide evidence that the elastic properties of central, but not peripheral, arteries fluctuate significantly with the phases of the menstrual cycle.

(Received 17 August 2005; accepted after revision 4 January 2006; first published online 11 January 2006)
Corresponding author K. Hayashi: Institute for Human Science and Biomedical Engineering, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8566, Japan. Email: k-hayashi{at}aist.go.jp