Figure 6.
Mean ± SEM of the β angle, that is, the direction of tissue stretch (λ1), in each pharyngeal wall sector (control [stippled columns], lateral [hatched columns], and ventral [dark columns]) and each pharyngeal region (rostral, mid-, and caudal pharynx) in nine lean Zucker rats (A) and nine obese Zucker rats (B). There were no significant differences between lean and obese rats, and therefore ANOVA results are reported from the combined group data. Taking into account differences among regions, results showed that lateral β angles were greater than ventral angles and both were significantly different from control (p < 0.0001). Specific contrast analysis showed that in the midregion lateral sector β angles (‡) were greater than the ventral sector angles (†) and different from control (p < 0.05).