Estrogen Replacement Improves Mesenteric Arterial Relaxation and Insulin Signaling in Skeletal Muscle of UC Davis Pre-diabetic Rats

The risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is lower in premenopausal women compared to men, and this lower risk is related to the presumptive cardioprotective effects of female sex hormones, estrogen in particular. However, premenopausal women may lose this protection with the onset of menopause and/or when they become diabetic. Little is known about the vascular function and insulin signaling in skeletal muscle (SKM) in presence or absence of estrogen at the early stage of diabetes.