ONOO− does not activate Ras in H9C2 cells. Cells were NS or exposed to decomposed ONOO− (DC, 5 min) or authentic ONOO− (500 μM, 2–15 min). Ras activation was assessed as described in Section 2. A. A baseline activation of Ras was noted in untreated cells, that was not further increased by ONOO−stimulation, whereas ERK 1/2 was phosphorylated in these conditions. B. The phosphorylation of ERK triggered by ONOO− for 15 min was not influenced by FPTII, a potent and selective inhibitor of Ras. C+, positive control; C– negative control. Densitometric analyses are mean ± S.E.M. of four independent experiments. * P < 0.05 vs. NS.