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. 2024 Oct 2;7:1241. doi: 10.1038/s42003-024-06895-y

Fig. 4. Vascular smooth muscle cell relaxation/vasodilation with DEANO increases aortic stiffness of CPP1-treated infrarenal aortic segments.

Fig. 4

A In basal unstimulated conditions, both the vascular (smooth muscle) cells and the extracellular matrix proteins together define the overall stiffness/biomechanical properties of arterial tissue. However, when a maximum concentration of a vasodilator such as DEANO is administered, the VSMCs relax completely. Consequentially, the ECM becomes the main determinant of the biomechanical properties of the aorta. B Aortic segments, treated for 24 h with CPP1, were challenged with 2 µM DEANO to induce vasodilatation in otherwise unstimulated, ex vivo, conditions. Interestingly, the stiffness of CPP1-treated aortic segments significantly increased after vasorelaxation. C Pressure-stiffness relationship between Ep and pressure for CPP1-treated thoracic descending aorta (TDA) and abdominal infrarenal aorta (AIA) tissue segments. D Additionally, whereas ΔEp in untreated samples was negative after DEANO administration, CPP2-treated segments showed a significantly attenuated response. E Pressure-stiffness relationship between Ep and pressure for CPP2-treated TDA and AIA tissue segments. n = 9, except: [(D, E) control-thoracic aorta; n = 7, (D, E) CPP2-infrarenal aorta; n = 8]. Statistical analysis was performed using a Two-Way ANOVA with a Sidak post hoc test for multiple comparisons. *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001. Error bars represent standard error of the mean (SEM). ΔEp = Ep after DEANO – Ep before DEANO.