PROTECTION FROM CHRONIC STRESS- AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOM-INDUCED VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION IN FEMALE RATS IS ABOLISHED BY PRE-EXISTING METABOLIC DISEASE

While it is known that chronic stress and clinical depression are powerful predictors of poor cardiovascular outcomes, recent clinical evidence has identified correlations between the development of metabolic disease and that for depressive symptoms; creating a combined condition of severely elevated cardiovascular disease risk. In this companion manuscript, we determine the impact of pre-existing metabolic disease on the relationship between chronic stress//depressive symptoms and vascular function, using the obese Zucker (OZR) and the unpredictable chronic mild stress UCMS models. Additionally, we determined the impact of metabolic syndrome on sex-based protection from chronic stress/depressive symptoms on vascular function demonstrated in female lean Zucker rats (LZR). OZR, in general, exhibited an attenuated vasodilator reactivity under control conditions versus LZR. Although still impaired, female OZR demonstrated a superior conduit arterial and resistance arteriolar dilator reactivity under control ...