Figure 6. Effect of ecNOS inhibitors on shear stress-dependent downregulation of ET-1 expression.

HUVEC were exposed to an arterial level of shear stress (ss, 15 dyn cm⁻², 24 h) without or with increasing concentrations of ecNOS inhibitor (up to 500 μM L-NAME, L-N). From these cultures ppET-1 mRNA expression was determined by competitive RT-PCR (A), and ET-1 peptide release by ET-ELISA (B). Values are expressed as percentage of internal control with inhibitor and dextran, but without shear stress, and given as means ±s.e.m.; n= 3; * P < 0.05 vs. control without shear stress (con) (static condition: open bars, shear stress: hatched bars).