Principal Investigator:

Nina Stachenfeld, PhD
Associate Fellow,
John B. Pierce Laboratory

Associate Professor
Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive
Sciences
Yale University School of Medicine and
Yale School of Public Health

Research Interests

The regulation of body fluid and sodium content involves the integration of several physiological systems. A number of investigations have found that hormones involved primarily in reproductive function, specifically estrogen and progesterone, have important effects on the systems that regulate body fluid balance. Estrogen, for example, can alter the "set point" around which the thirst mechanism and kidney water reabsorptive functions regulate body fluid content. Progesterone appears to affect body fluid content through its impact on the hormones that regulate body sodium content. The study of these hormones is challenging in young women because estrogen and progesterone fluctuate during the menstrual cycle. Consequently, Dr. Stachenfeld has examined these systems in older postmenopausal, women before and during treatment with estrogen, and has used the birth control pill to control the levels of estrogen and progesterone in young women.

Current Projects

Dr. Stachenfeld is using drugs that suppress estrogen and progesterone in young women so that these hormones can then be added back in controlled doses. Under these conditions, she will examine direct effects of estrogen and progesterone on the regulation of both body fluid and blood pressure regulation.

Representative Publications

Stachenfeld, N.S., H.S. Taylor, C.A. Leone, D.L. Keefe.  Estrogen effects on urine concentrating response in  young women.  J. Physiol. 552.3. 869-880, 2003.

Stachenfeld, N.S, H.S. Taylor. Effects of estrogen and progesterone administration on extracellular fluid. J. Appl. Physiol. 96: 1011-1018, 2004

Stachenfeld, N.S, D.L. Keefe, H.S. Taylor.  Responses to a saline load in gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist-pretreated premenopausal women receiving progesterone or estradiol-progesterone therapy. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.  90:386-394, 2005.

Stachenfeld, N.S., H.S. Taylor.  Progesterone increases plasma and extracellular fluid volumes independent of estradiol. J. Appl.  Physiol: 98:1991-1997, 2005.

Stachenfeld, N.S., H.S.Taylor. Exogenous oestradiol and progesterone administration does not cause  oedema in healthy young women. Clinical Endocrinol. 66: 410–418, 2007.

Sawka MN, Burke LM, Eichner ER, Maughan RJ, Montain SJ, Stachenfeld NS. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Exercise and fluid replacement  .Med. Sci Sports Exerc.  39: 377-390, 2007.

Stachenfeld, N.S. Acute effects of sodium ingestion on thirst and cardiovascular function. Clin. Sports Med.  Reports. 7:S7-S13, 2008.

Stachenfeld, N.S. Sex hormone effects on body fluid regulation.  Exerc. Sports Sci. Rev. 36:  152-159, 2008.

Stachenfeld, N.S., Taylor, H.S. Sex hormone effects on body fluid and sodium regulation in women with and without Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia. J. Appl.  Physiol.  In Press (ePub).