AUSTIN, TX -- Many common diseases exhibit gender bias and gender differences have been observed in the development of high blood pressure (hypertension) and heart (cardiovascular) disease. Previous studies have reported that gender may affect vascular physiology and the bodys response to some types of blood pressure medications. Although gender is usually accounted for in association studies, newer research has focused on identifying autosomal (not on the X or Y chromosomes) genes that contribute differentially to complex traits (blood pressure) or diseases (hypertension). In a new study, researchers examined the differential contribution of genetic factors involved in regulating blood pressure based on samples drawn from a large community. They found significant differences in genetic contributors to blood pressure in males versus females.

The study was conducted by Brinda Rana and Nicholas Schork, Department of Psychiatry; Paul Insel, Department of Pharmacology; and Daniel OConnor, Department of Medicine; University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA. It is entitled, "Population Extremes-Based Approach Defines Gender Differences in Adrenergic and Renal Genes Contributing to Blood Pressure." The research is one of more than 100 presentations being offered at the conference, Sex and Gender in Cardiovascular-Renal Physiology and Pathophyiology, being held August 9-12, 2007 in Austin, TX. The event is the second scientific gathering to be sponsored by the American Physiological Society (APS; www.The-APS.org) this year.

Methodology

The researchers used a study design in which they sampled age-matched Caucasian Americans (611 male and 656 female) within the top and bottom fifth percentile of blood pressure against blood pressure measured in more than 53,000 people during routine health exams in a major health maintenance program in Southern California. This approach provides over 90 per
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Contact: Donna Krupa
dkrupa@the-aps.org
301-634-7209
American Physiological Society
8-Aug-2007