The main purpose of this interventional study is to examine differences in resting blood pressure control between healthy males and females. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Are there sex differences in the communication between the sympathetic nervous system (also known as the "fight or flight" response) and peripheral blood vessels (which influence systemic blood pressure)? 2. What is the role of specific vascular receptors that respond to sympathetic signals, and is it different between males and females? Participants will complete one study visit of approximately 3 hours where they will: * Have a blood sample taken to measure circulating sex hormone and sympathetic transmitters. * Receive very small doses of medications commonly used to adjust blood pressure through an artery in their arm. The effects of these medications will be short-acting and localized to the forearm. * Have their sympathetic nervous activity directly measured through two very small needles (similar to acupuncture needles) in the side of their leg. * Have their blood pressure and heart rate recorded, and forearm blood flow measured using ultrasound.
Age range
18 Years – 40 Years
Sex
ALL
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Forearm blood flow
Timeframe: 10 minutes per condition + 2 minutes per agonist dose = 60 minutes
Forearm vascular resistance
Timeframe: 10 minutes per condition + 2 minutes per agonist dose = 60 minutes
Forearm vascular conductance
Timeframe: 10 minutes per condition + 2 minutes per agonist dose = 60 minutes
Arterial blood pressure
Timeframe: 10 minutes per condition + 2 minutes per agonist dose = 60 minutes
Muscle sympathetic nerve activity
Timeframe: 10 minutes per condition = 30 minutes
Circulating sex hormone concentrations
Timeframe: 2 minutes
Circulating sympathetic neurotransmitter concentrations
Timeframe: 2 minutes