Systolic blood pressure and aortic O2− levels in WKY and SHR. (a) Measurement of systolic blood pressure in WKY and SHR at 4 and 8 weeks. (b) O2− levels in aortic segments from WKY and SHR at 4 and 8 weeks. All values are mean±s.e.mean. n=8 of each strain per group. *P<0.05, unpaired t-test versus WKY, †P<0.05, unpaired t-test versus 4 weeks. SHR, spontaneously hypertensive rats; WKY, wistar–Kyoto.