Flow-mediated dilation decreases in women, but not men, following mild acute intermittent hypoxia

Acute, intermittent exposure to mild hypoxia increases sympathetic nervous system activity, decreases arterial shear rate, and increases blood pressure (BP) in young men. Given that the BP-raising effects of intermittent hypoxia (IH) are less evident in young women, we sought to examine the influence of sex on macro- and microvascular function following IH. BP, macrovascular function [brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD)], microvascular function [reactive hyperemia area under the curve (RHAUC)], and brachial artery shear rate [shear rate area under the curve (SRAUC)] were measured before and following 30 min of IH in 18 young adults (8 women, 23 ± 5 yr). IH elicited an average nadir blood oxygen saturation ([Formula: see text]) of 92 ± 3% (<i>P</i> < 0.0001 vs. baseline). In men, brachial systolic (bSBP; 116 ± 6 to 122 ± 7 mmHg, <i>P</i> = 0.001) and diastolic (bDBP; 116 ± 6 to 122 ± 7 mmHg, <i>P</i> = 0.001) BPs increased from baseline following IH. bSBP (110 ± 8 to 111 ± 7 mmHg, <i>P</i> = 0.67) and bDBP (64 ± 7 to 68 ± 7 mmHg, <i>P</i> = 0.12) were unchanged in women after IH. Men maintained macrovascular function after IH (ΔFMD: 0.75 ± 2.44%), whereas women exhibited a decline (ΔFMD: -3.09 ± 2.64%, <i>P</i> = 0.006 vs. men). Microvascular function and shear rate declined following IH independent of sex (RHAUC: 597 ± 306 to 467 ± 205 mL/min, <i>P</i> = 0.049; SRAUC: 1772 ± 907 to 1439 ± 596 s^-1, <i>P</i> = 0.040). Acute mild IH increases BP in healthy men but not women. In women, both micro- and macrovascular functions are lower following acute mild IH; in contrast, only microvascular function is lower in men. The sex-specific effects of IH on BP and macrovascular function may have important implications for the potential beneficial effects of IH.<b>NEW & NOTEWORTHY</b> The present study aimed to investigate the influence of sex on vascular responses to 30 min of acute, mild intermittent hypoxia. Men and women exhibited similar decreases in arterial shear rate and microvascular function after intermittent hypoxia. Although men exhibited increases in blood pressure but no changes in macrovascular function, women exhibited significant decreases in macrovascular function despite no changes in blood pressure. Sex may influence the potential hormetic effects of intermittent hypoxia.