Fig. 3.

E₂ exerts beneficial effects on RV function and RV compliance in acutely exercised SuHx rats. Effects are shown of sex, OVX, and E₂ repletion on stroke volume index (SVI; A), cardiac index (CI; B), RV hypertrophy [expressed as Fulton index; RV/(LV+S); C], stroke volume (SV; D), cardiac output (CO; E), velocity time integral (VTI; F), pulmonary artery acceleration time (PAAT; G), SV normalized for tibia length (H), CO normalized for tibia length (I), and RV compliance [expressed as SVI divided by pulse pressure (RVSP − RVDP); J]. Note overall pattern of improved RV function and structure in animals with endogenous and/or exogenous E₂. K: representative images of Doppler signal in the RV outflow tract. Note notching of Doppler signaling in male SuHx and female OVX groups (arrows), indicating RV dysfunction. SuHx exposure, OVX, and E₂ repletion were as outlined in Fig. 1. Values are means ± SE; N = 5–8/group. P < 0.05 vs. *same sex normoxia control, #female SuHx, °female OVX SuHx, and ^male SuHx (one-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey's test).