(a) Mean arterial blood pressure under local anesthesia. All values are reported as mean ± SD. In SHR, a significant elevation of mean arterial blood pressure was observed relative to that in WKY rats (∗, P < 0.05). After intake of the tungsten-enriched diet, the elevated mean arterial blood pressure characteristic of SHR was significantly blunted (†, P < 0.05). The number at the bottom of each column indicates the number of animals. (b) The number of EB-positive nuclei (%) along arteriolar and venular wall. All values are reported as mean ± SD. ∗, P < 0.05 as compared with those of WKY rats arterioles; †, P < 0.05 as compared with those of control SHR arterioles; ∗∗, P < 0.05 as compared with those of WKY rats venules; ††, P < 0.05 as compared with those of control SHR venules. The number at the bottom of each column indicates the number of microvessels observed in the study. (c) The steady-state arteriolar tone after 60 min mesenteric superfusion. All values are reported as mean ± SD. ∗, P < 0.05 as compared with those of WKY rats; †, P < 0.05 as compared with those of SHR. The number at the bottom of each column indicates the number of arterioles observed in the study. (d) The level of total xanthine oxidoreductase (XD and XO) activity and XO activity in the mesentery. All values are reported as mean ± SD. ∗, P < 0.05 as compared with those of control WKY rats. ∗∗, P < 0.05 as compared with control SHR. Six rats were used in each group.