Figure 6.

Effect of chelerythrine on ACh-mediated endothelium-dependent relaxation in the presence and in the absence of 7-ketocholesterol. Graph shows concentration-response curves to ACh of arteries precontracted with 0.3 μM NE and preincubated for 2 h without or with 90 μg ml⁻¹ of 7-ketocholesterol. Chelerythrine (10 nM) was added 30 min before the contraction/relaxation cycle was performed. Each point represents the mean±s.e.mean of six distinct experiments. Significantly different from control: ^aP<0.05, ^bP<0.01. Significantly different from 7-ketocholesterol-treated rings. ^cP<0.05.