Hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. Although multiple factors contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension, studies by Dr David Barker reporting an inverse relationship between birth weight and blood pressure led to the hypothesis that slow growth during fetal life increased blood pressure and the risk for cardiovascular disease in later life. It is now recognized that growth during infancy and childhood, in addition to exposure to adverse influences during fetal life, contributes to the developmental programming of increased cardiovascular risk. Numerous epidemiological studies support the link between influences during early life and later cardiovascular health; experimental models provide proof of principle and indicate that numerous mechanisms contribute to the developmental origins of chronic disease. Sex has an impact on the severity of cardiovascular risk in experimental models of developmental insult. Yet, few studies examine the influence of sex on blood pressure and cardiovascular health in low-birth weight men and women. Fewer still assess the impact of ageing on sex differences in programmed cardiovascular risk. Thus, the aim of the present review is to highlight current data about sex differences in the developmental programming of blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
Article navigation
Review Article|
January 26 2016
Gender differences in developmental programming of cardiovascular diseases
John Henry Dasinger
;
John Henry Dasinger
*
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Center for Women's Health Research, Center for Developmental Disorders Research, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 N State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, U.S.A.
Search for other works by this author on:
Barbara T. Alexander
*
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Center for Women's Health Research, Center for Developmental Disorders Research, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 N State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, U.S.A.
Correspondence: Barbara T. Alexander (email balexander@umc.edu).
Search for other works by this author on:
Clin Sci (Lond) (2016) 130 (5): 337-348.
Article history
Received:
August 28 2015
Revision Received:
November 06 2015
Accepted:
December 04 2015
Citation
John Henry Dasinger, Barbara T. Alexander; Gender differences in developmental programming of cardiovascular diseases. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 March 2016; 130 (5): 337–348. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20150611
Download citation file:
Close
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Biochemical Society Member Sign in
Sign InSign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionCited By
Related Articles
Mechanisms underlying developmental programming of elevated blood pressure and vascular dysfunction: evidence from human studies and experimental animal models
Clin Sci (Lond) (November, 2007)
DNA methylation at the crossroads of gene and environment interactions
Essays Biochem (November, 2019)
Haemodynamic and Neurohumoral Effects of Caffeine in Elderly Patients with Symptomatic Postprandial Hypotension: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study
Clin Sci (Lond) (August, 1994)
Relaxin contributes to the regulation of arterial pressure in adult female mice
Clin Sci (Lond) (November, 2017)