AJP-Heart and Circulatory Physiology Podcast

Endocrine Enigmas: Female Cardiovascular Health Throughout the Lifespan

AJP-Heart and Circulatory Physiology has been championing women’s health research for many years, and in 2021 launched a special call for papers, which later became a standing collection in the journal, that has amassed over 100 peer reviewed publications focused on women’s cardiovascular health. In 2024 the American Physiological Society launched the Women’s Health Research Initiative aimed at addressing critical scientific gaps underlying health conditions that uniquely impact women. In this episode, Dr. Jason Carter (Baylor College) interviews authors Jenna Stone (McMaster University), Dr. Maureen McDonald (McMaster University), and Dr. Kerrie Moreau (University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus) about their recent Review article published as part of the Women’s Health Research Initiative. Stone et al. discuss how traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors have been historically misidentified in females, the importance of certain metrics such as arterial stiffness and vascular endothelial function, and how early risk indicators are impacted during premenopausal period, pregnancy, and menopause. Ready to learn more? Listen now.

 

Jenna C. Stone, Margie H. Davenport, Kerrie L. Moreau, Kyra E. Pyke, Megan M. Wenner, Jennifer S. Williams, and Maureen J. MacDonald Endocrine enigmas: vascular health in females throughout the lifespan Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published November 11, 2025. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00412.2025

Guidelines for Diet-induced Models of Cardiometabolic Syndrome

In our latest episode, Deputy Editor Dr. Zam Kassiri (University of Alberta) interviews authors Dr. German González (Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina), Dr. Rebecca Ritchie (Monash University), Dr. Pooneh Bagher (University of Nebraska Medical Center), and Dr. Hiroe Toba (Kyoto Pharmaceutical University) about the latest Guidelines in Cardiovascular Research article by Sveeggen et al. that helps researchers tackle the sources of variability in experimental models of diet-induced cardiometabolic syndrome. This podcast is a must-listen for any researcher using a diet-induced food model of disease. The authors discuss different food composition with details about type and source of fat and macronutrients, as well as environmental factors that can influence metabolic outcomes. These guidelines serve as a framework for researchers to optimize dietary interventions in cardiometabolic syndrome models and improve the predictive value of preclinical findings for translational applications. Listen now to hear more, including bonus multi-language summaries in both Spanish and Japanese.

 

Timothy M. Sveeggen, Pooneh Bagher, Hiroe Toba, Merry L. Lindsey, Rebecca H. Ritchie, Verónica J. Miksztowicz, and Germán E. González Guidelines for diet-induced models of cardiometabolic syndrome Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published October 7, 2025. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00359.2025

Arrhythpy

Why is a broad approach that works with iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes so important to understanding molecular mechanisms underlying calcium homeostasis and arrhythmias? In this episode, Associate Editor Dr. Petra Kleinbongard (University of Duisburg-Essen) interviews author Dr. Katrin Streckfuss-Bömeke (University Medical Center Göttingen) and expert Dr. Melanie Paillard (Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1) about the new study by Ajmail et al. While arrhythmias in calcium transients are easy to detect by human perception, quantifying arrhythmias in a computer-readable manner is often difficult. To tackle the challenge, the authors developed an open-source program called Arrhythpy that quantifies and classifies confocal microscopy-based Fluo-4 Ca2+ transients to generate a measure of arrhythmia. What is unique about Arrhythpy is that it directly measures the shape and frequency of transients. The program includes two parts: frequency profiling using a method called wavelet transformation, and measuring transient peak shape using a method called autocorrelation function. After combining these measurements, Arrhythpy classifies each transient into one of 6 different subgroups. No specialty training is needed, and no specialized platforms are required to use Arrhythpy. The program can be used with different microscopes, cell types, and calcium dyes. What is the utility of Arrhythpy beyond the arrhythmia field? Listen now to find out.

 

Karim Ajmail, Charlotte Brand, Thomas Borchert, Benjamin Meder, Sabine Rebs, Katrin Streckfuss-Bömeke Arrhythpy: An Automated Tool to Quantify and Classify Arrhythmias in Ca2+ Transients of iPSC-Cardiomyocytes Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published September 15, 2025. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00414.2025

Sex Differences and Cardioprotective Effects of B-Vitamins

What is the main driver of sex differences in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)? In our latest episode, Associate Editor Dr. Petra Kleinbongard (University of Duisburg-Essen) interviews lead author Dr. Matthieu Ruiz (Montreal Heart Institute) and expert Dr. Catherine Mounier (Université du Québec à Montréal) about the new study by David et al. that explores sex-specific effects of B-vitamin supplementation on heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in mice subjected to pressure overload. The research by Ruiz and co-authors found that B-vitamins improved survival rates, cardiac function, and reduced fibrosis in female mice. However, male mice exhibited persistent inflammation, fibrosis, and unfavorable lipidome remodeling despite the B-vitamin supplementation. The findings underscore the sex-specific benefits of B-vitamins in heart failure, and confirm the importance of animal models of human disease for clinical translation. Listen now and learn more.

 

Chloé David, Sonia Deschênes, Gabriel Ichkhan, Caroline Daneault, Isabelle Robillard Frayne, Bertrand Bouchard, Anik Forest, Yan Fen Shi, Marie-Ève Higgins, Martin G. Sirois, Jean-Claude Tardif, Mathias Mericskay, Jérôme Piquereau, and Matthieu Ruiz Sex-Specific Modulation of Cardiac Fibrosis and Lipid Metabolism by B-Vitamins in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction in Mice Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published June 12, 2025. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00841.2024

E-cigs Promote Arrhythmias During Labor and Postpartum

In our latest episode, Associate Editor Dr. Jason Carter (Baylor University, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences) interviews authors Dr. Alex Carll and Brittany Reynolds (University of Louisville School of Medicine), along with expert Dr. Jessica Bradshaw (University of North Texas Health Science Center), about the recent work by Reynolds et al. There are an estimated 68 million e-cigarette users worldwide, and the use of e-cigarettes during pregnancy has been on a steady rise in recent years. Evidence shows that 1 in 5 smokers or ex-smokers who become pregnant use e-cigarettes during pregnancy, yet the effects of vaping on maternal health during and after pregnancy are poorly understood. Reynolds et al. developed a preclinical mouse model of e-cigarette use during pregnancy to assess maternal autonomic control and ventricular arrhythmias, which further solidifies the relevance of animal research to the NIH mission to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. The authors measured the dams at 3 weeks postpartum and found lasting increases in catecholamines, which indicates increased sympathetic activation. In addition, the authors found increases in the occurrence of spontaneous ventricular premature beats, which are indications of increased risk for sudden cardiac death and heart failure. What impact does vaping have on maternal cardiovascular health, both during pregnancy and in the postpartum period? Listen now to find out more.

 

Brittany R. Reynolds, Sean M. Raph, Anand Ramalingam, Shweta Srivastava, Pawel Lorkiewicz, Lillian E. Watson, Kenneth R. Brittian, Helen E. Collins, and Alex P. Carll Don't go vaping my heart: e-cigarette exposure during pregnancy promotes peripartum ventricular arrhythmias and sympathetic dominance Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published September 22, 2025. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00509.2025

Allostatic Load and Cardiometabolic Health

How can we better understand the developmental nature of cardiovascular disease across the life course and improve the health of people who experience chronic early life stress? In this episode Dr. Nathaniel Jenkins (University of Iowa) interviews lead author Dr. Annemarie Wentzel (North-West University, South African Medical Research Council Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease) and expert Dr. Romain Harmancey (The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston) about the study by Wentzel et al. which found that stress, expressed as a cumulative allostatic load score, impacted the microvasculature, macrovasculature, and central cardiac structure and function on a preclinical level in otherwise healthy emerging adults. The authors also found that the composite allostatic load score was particularly accurate in predicting masked hypertension and pre-diabetes in their study population. The composite allostatic load score incorporates multiple physiological biomarker systems and can offer clinicians an additional tool to use in addressing root causes of chronic stress. Is your hardware for managing stress where it should be developmentally? Listen now and learn more.

 

A. Wentzel, W. Smith, E. Jansen van Vuren, R. Kruger, Y. Breet, E. Wonkam-Tingang, N. A. Hanchard, and S. T. Chung Allostatic load and cardiometabolic health in a young adult South African population: the African-PREDICT study Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published February 24, 2025. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00845.2024

Menopause Is More Than Estrogen Deficiency

The literature shows that the incidence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) increases significantly in postmenopausal women, but how can researchers study the underlying mechanisms? In our latest episode, Dr. Jonathan Kirk (Loyola University Chicago) interviews lead author Dr. Mei Methawasin (University of Missouri, Columbia) and expert Dr. Glen Pyle (University of Guelph) about the recent study by Methawasin and co-authors investigating sex differences, menopause and HFpEF. The authors created an animal model that resembles HFpEF in women undergoing natural menopause by using 4-vinylcyclohexene dioxide (VCD) to induce “ovary-intact” menopause, combined with the 2hit regimen (HFpEF inducing regimen) to model postmenopausal HFpEF. Combining echocardiography, pressure-volume and single-cell analyses, the authors found that VCD mice, compared to ovariectomized mice and premenopausal mice, have higher testosterone levels compared to other models. By developing this robust phenotype animal model, the authors open new avenues for investigating therapeutic targets in other hormones beyond estrogen alone. Ready to explore the estrobolome, the importance of animal models of human disease, and the complex family of hormones comprising estrogen? Listen now.

 

Mei Methawasin, Joshua Strom, Vito A. Marino, Jochen Gohlke, Julia Muldoon, Shelby R. Herrick, Robbert van der Piji, John P. Konhilas, Henk Granzier An ovary-intact postmenopausal HFpEF mouse model; menopause is more than just estrogen deficiency Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published March 10, 2025. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00575.2024

Ischemia Injury and Ferroptosis in Human Donor Heart

What is the role of ferroptosis, programmed cell death characterized by intracellular iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation, in the context of ischemic injury related to heart transplantation? In this episode, Associate Editor Dr. Amanda LeBlanc (University of Louisville) interviews authors Dr. Kenneth Liao and Dr. Nandan Mondal (both at Baylor College of Medicine), along with expert Dr. Zachary Kiernan (Virginia Commonwealth University) about the latest study by Li et al. The authors found that prolonged cold storage increases the susceptibility of hearts donated after brain death (DBD) to ferroptotic cell death. In contrast, however, the authors found that warm ischemic injury increased the risk for ferroptotic cell death in hearts donated after circulatory death (DCD). Li et al. found that targeting ferroptosis could be beneficial for optimizing cold preservation for DBD hearts, while interventions for DCD hearts should focus on the early phase of warm ischemia. Heart transplantation is the gold standard therapy for patients with medically refractory advanced heart failure. However, demand greatly exceeds supply of donor hearts. Listen as we discuss the current state of the heart transplantation field and the many challenges it faces.

 

Shiyi Li, Katherine V. Nordick, Abdussalam E. Elsenousi, Rishav Bhattacharya, Randall P. Kirby, Adel M. Hassan, Camila Hochman-Mendez, Todd K. Rosengart, Kenneth K. Liao, and Nandan K. Mondal Warm-ischemia and Cold Storage Induced Modulation of Ferroptosis Observed in Human Hearts Donated After Circulatory Death and Brain Death Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published March 28, 2025. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00806.2024

Wasted Pressure Effort, Menstrual Cycle Phase, and Sex

Can hormonal fluctuations across a single menstrual cycle alter arterial wave reflections and wasted pressure effort? In this episode, Associate Editor Dr. Jonathan Kirk (Loyola University Chicago) interviews author Dr. Ninette Shenouda (University of Delaware) and expert Dr. Sarah Baker (Mayo Clinic) about the latest study by Shenouda et al. investigating sex differences and ventricular arterial interactions. The authors wanted to understand how strategic phases of the menstrual cycle might affect the relationship between the left ventricle (LV) and the arterial system, as this relationship is crucial for maintaining adequate cardiac output and blood pressure. Given the established beneficial effects of estradiol on the vasculature, the authors hypothesized that their cohort of naturally menstruating premenopausal women would have favorable reductions in total peripheral resistance and favorable changes in the arterial wave reflection profile during the high hormone cycle phases, compared to age matched men. What were the unexpected findings? Listen now to find out.

 

Ninette Shenouda, Joseph M. Stock, Nicholas V. Chouramanis, Zoe R. Lincoln, Megan M. Wenner, Julio A. Chirinos, and David G. Edwards Favorable alterations in ventricular-arterial interactions across the menstrual cycle in healthy premenopausal women Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published February 28, 2025. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00363.2024

Guidelines for Assessing Ventricular Pressure-Volume Relationships in Rodents

In this episode, Deputy Editor Dr. Zamaneh Kassiri (University of Alberta) interviews authors Dr. Oliver H. Wearing (University of British Columbia), Dr. Naomi C. Chesler (University of California Irvine), Dr. Mitchel J. Colebank (University of South Carolina), Dr. Timothy A. Hacker (University of Wisconsin-Madison), Dr. John N. Lorenz (University of Cincinnati), and Dr. Christopher R. West (University of British Columbia) about their new Guidelines in Cardiovascular Research article. This must-read Guidelines article provides a thorough overview of ventricular pressure-volume (PV) measurements in the mouse heart. PV measurements are an invasive method for assessment of heart function, and if done correctly, can provide researchers with valuable information about heart hemodynamics and the relationship between changes in ventricular pressure and volume during a cardiac cycle. The authors discuss PV measurements as the gold standard for assessing cardiac in vivo function. How do PV measurements differ from, and provide a complement to, echocardiography measurements? Listen and find out more.

 

Oliver H. Wearing, Naomi C. Chesler, Mitchel J. Colebank, Timothy A. Hacker, John N. Lorenz, Jeremy A. Simpson, and Christopher R. West Guidelines for assessing ventricular pressure-volume relationships in rodents Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published January 2, 2025. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00434.2024