Human Cerebral Blood Flow Regulation

Description

This study tests basic differences in how men and women control brain (cerebral) blood flow (CBF), at rest and under stress. The stress is low oxygen or high carbon dioxide. The investigators hypothesize that sex differences per se, plus sex hormone differences, drive different signals in blood vessels that change the way CBF is regulated. The investigators will test these mechanisms with medicine infusions during stress, and measure CBF using state-of-the-art MRI approaches. Research confounding variables like aging and disease will be mitigated by comparing younger adults (18-40 years old).

Conditions

Cerebral Arterial Diseases

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

This study tests basic differences in how men and women control brain (cerebral) blood flow (CBF), at rest and under stress. The stress is low oxygen or high carbon dioxide. The investigators hypothesize that sex differences per se, plus sex hormone differences, drive different signals in blood vessels that change the way CBF is regulated. The investigators will test these mechanisms with medicine infusions during stress, and measure CBF using state-of-the-art MRI approaches. Research confounding variables like aging and disease will be mitigated by comparing younger adults (18-40 years old).

Human Cerebral Blood Flow Regulation: Sex, Mechanism, and Stress Differences

Human Cerebral Blood Flow Regulation

Condition
Cerebral Arterial Diseases
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Madison

University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States, 53706

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * All participants will be healthy adults between 18-40 years old, matched for age and aerobic fitness
  • * Participants will be non-hypertensive (\<125/80mm Hg)
  • * Participants will be non-obese (BMI 19-25 kg/m2)
  • * Participants will have normal blood glucose (\<100 g/dl)
  • * Participants will have normal lipids (LDL cholesterol \<130 mg/dl, triglycerides \<150 mg/dl)
  • * Women must have a natural regular menstrual cycle
  • * Participants with a history of:
  • * peripheral vascular disease
  • * hepatic disease
  • * renal disease
  • * hematologic disease
  • * stroke
  • * obesity
  • * prediabetes
  • * diabetes
  • * sleep apnea
  • * Participants with current BP\>130/85 mmHg
  • * Regular smokers
  • * Taking cardiovascular medications
  • * Women who take hormonal birth control
  • * Women who are pregnant or have polycystic ovarian syndrome \[Hormonal birth control will not be allowed in women\]
  • * Contradictions to MRI
  • * Lactose intolerance

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 40 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

University of Wisconsin, Madison,

William Schrage, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Study Record Dates

2026-05-31