Figure 1.

Influences of ovariectomy and oestrus cycle on Phe-induced contraction in rat mesenteric arteries. (a) Concentration-response curves for Phe-induced contraction in mesenteric arteries from sham-operated and ovariectomized rats. Phe was added to the bath cumulatively. (b) Effects of treatment with 100 μM L-NOARG on contractions induced by 1 and 10 μM Phe in mesenteric arteries from sham-operated, ovariectomized, ovariectomized and 17β-oestradiol-treated, and diestrus rats. The results are shown as means±s.e.mean of 6–10 experiments. ^*P<0.05 and ^**P<0.01 vs the corresponding value obtained in the control (sham-operated) group.