Webinar Summary
- Understand the VCD model: Gain insights into the VCD (4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide) model of chemically induced ovarian failure and its advantages over the ovariectomy (OVX) model.
- Explore skeletal muscle changes: Learn about the impact of gradual ovarian failure on the contractile properties and morphology of skeletal muscles.
- Time course changes of menopause: Understand the importance of studying menopause as a dynamic process rather than a singular timepoint, and how this perspective can lead to more accurate interpretations of research findings.
- Evaluate broader implications: Consider the broader implications of menopause-related muscle changes on women's health and potential future direction suggestions for the field to help identify strategies for mitigating negative effects.
Utilizing an occupational chemical called VCD, which induces gradual ovarian failure, Parastoo's work offers a nuanced perspective on the time-course changes in muscle function throughout menopause. She discusses her findings on the contractile properties of skeletal muscles at the single fiber level as well as explores morphological alterations, particularly focusing on fatty infiltration and fibrosis in muscles post-ovarian failure, which will have implications on overall muscle health and function.
This session also highlights the broader implications of these changes, emphasizing the importance of studying the perimenopause phase. Parastoo discusses how understanding the physiological changes during this critical transitional phase can lead to potential strategies for mitigating the negative effects of menopause on women's health. Attendees will gain insights into the innovative use of the VCD model, contrasting it with the more common ovariectomy model, and learn about the significance of estrogen in maintaining muscle function. This talk aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the intricate, and rather complex, relationship between menopause and skeletal muscle health, offering new perspectives for future research and potential therapeutic approaches.
Featuring Insights from
Parastoo Mashouri
,
MSc
Parastoo Mashouri's doctoral research focuses on understanding the effects of perimenopause and menopause on skeletal muscle function. In particular, her work explores menopause’s effects on the contractile properties of skeletal muscles at the single fiber level as well as morphological changes in muscle such as fat infiltration and fibrosis.
Sponsored by
Aurora Scientific, Inc.
In Partnership with
American Physiological Society
Founded in 1887, the American Physiological Society is a global leader in expanding knowledge related to biological function. We connect a multidisciplinary community of nearly 10,000 scientists and educators from around the world, driving collaboration and spotlighting scientific discoveries in physiology and related disciplines. Our members are advancing treatments and cures for everything from cancer and heart disease, to obesity and addiction. They are also deepening our insight into living organisms generally, helping us to better understand how things like climate change are affecting the world around us.
Society for Women’s Health Research
As a national thought leader dedicated to advancing women’s health and promoting research on sex differences to optimize women’s health, the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) plays a critical role in identifying clinical and research gaps; raising awareness of diseases, conditions, and life stages that differently, disproportionately, or exclusively affect women; and promoting policies that could positively shape health outcomes for women. Over its more than 30-year history, SWHR has been advancing women’s health through its core functions of science, policy, and education.
