TY - JOUR
T1 - Urinary cortisol is inversely associated with capillary recruitment in women
T2 - A potential explanation for the cortisol-blood pressure relationship
AU - De Jongh, Renate T.
AU - Ijzerman, Richard G.
AU - Serné, Erik H.
AU - Van Weissenbruch, Mirjam M.
AU - Voordouw, Jasper J.
AU - Delemarre-Van De Waal, Henriette A.
AU - Stehouwer, Coen D.A.
PY - 2007/7/1
Y1 - 2007/7/1
N2 - The relationships of cortisol with elevated blood pressure and insulin resistance are likely to be the result of a complex interplay of different mechanisms. We hypothesize that cortisol is associated with impaired microvascular function and that this contributes to cortisol-associated high blood pressure and insulin resistance. We examined 24 h urinary free cortisol excretion in 56 healthy adults (26 women). Blood pressure was assessed by 24 h ambulatory measurements. Insulin sensitivity was determined using the hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp technique. Skin capillary recruitment after arterial occlusion was visualized with videomicroscopy and endothelium-(in) dependent vasodilation was evaluated with iontophoresis of acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside combined with laser Doppler fluxmetry. Men were characterized by higher urinary cortisol excretion [median (interquartile range), 162 (130-194) compared with 118 (99-156) nmol/24 h, P < 0.05]. In women, but not in men, urinary cortisol excretion was associated with impaired capillary recruitment (r = -0.66, P < 0.001), higher systolic blood pressure (r = 0.64, P < 0.001) and lower insulin sensitivity (r = -0.43, P < 0.05). Urinary cortisol excretion was not associated with endothelium-(in)dependent vasodilation in men or women. Regression analysis demonstrated that capillary recruitment statistically explained 37% of the association between urinary cortisol and blood pressure in women. Capillary recruitment did not explain part of the association between urinary cortisol and insulin sensitivity. In conclusion, urinary cortisol excretion is inversely associated with capillary recruitment in women, but not in men, and capillary recruitment explains part of the cortisol-blood pressure relationship. These data suggest that, in women, impairment of capillary function mediates some of the adverse effects of cortisol and thus may provide a target to prevent such adverse effects.
AB - The relationships of cortisol with elevated blood pressure and insulin resistance are likely to be the result of a complex interplay of different mechanisms. We hypothesize that cortisol is associated with impaired microvascular function and that this contributes to cortisol-associated high blood pressure and insulin resistance. We examined 24 h urinary free cortisol excretion in 56 healthy adults (26 women). Blood pressure was assessed by 24 h ambulatory measurements. Insulin sensitivity was determined using the hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp technique. Skin capillary recruitment after arterial occlusion was visualized with videomicroscopy and endothelium-(in) dependent vasodilation was evaluated with iontophoresis of acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside combined with laser Doppler fluxmetry. Men were characterized by higher urinary cortisol excretion [median (interquartile range), 162 (130-194) compared with 118 (99-156) nmol/24 h, P < 0.05]. In women, but not in men, urinary cortisol excretion was associated with impaired capillary recruitment (r = -0.66, P < 0.001), higher systolic blood pressure (r = 0.64, P < 0.001) and lower insulin sensitivity (r = -0.43, P < 0.05). Urinary cortisol excretion was not associated with endothelium-(in)dependent vasodilation in men or women. Regression analysis demonstrated that capillary recruitment statistically explained 37% of the association between urinary cortisol and blood pressure in women. Capillary recruitment did not explain part of the association between urinary cortisol and insulin sensitivity. In conclusion, urinary cortisol excretion is inversely associated with capillary recruitment in women, but not in men, and capillary recruitment explains part of the cortisol-blood pressure relationship. These data suggest that, in women, impairment of capillary function mediates some of the adverse effects of cortisol and thus may provide a target to prevent such adverse effects.
KW - Blood pressure
KW - Capillary
KW - Glucocorticoid
KW - Hypertension
KW - Insulin resistance
KW - Microcirculation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34447509533&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20060357
DO - https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20060357
M3 - Article
C2 - 17295610
SN - 0143-5221
VL - 113
SP - 83
EP - 91
JO - Clinical science
JF - Clinical science
IS - 1-2
ER -