Figure 1.

Endothelial dysfunction in 5/6 nephrectomized rats and the effect of paricalcitol. SHAM and 5/6 NX rats were treated with vehicle or paricalcitol at indicated doses as described in “Materials and Methods” (n = 9–11 per group). Aorta rings were precontracted with phenylephrine (PE, 3 μM), and the endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine was added in half-log increments (1 nM–30 μM) at 3–5 minute intervals. Afterwards, aorta rings were precontracted with PE (3 μM) and subsequently treated with endothelial-independent vasodilator sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 1 nM–1 μM) at 3–5 minute intervals. (a) Acetylcholine-evoked relaxation. (b) SNP-evoked relaxation.