Figure 5.

L-NAME abolished the effect of paricalcitol on improving endothelial dysfunction in 5/6 nephrectomized rats. SHAM and 5/6 NX rats were treated with vehicle or paricalcitol at 0.16 μg/kg as described in “Materials and Methods” (n = 9–11 per group). Aortic rings were preincubated with 100 μM L-NAME for 1 hour prior to the addition of PE to induce contraction, and the endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine was added in half-log increments (1 nM–30 μM) at 3–5 minute intervals. (a) Acetylcholine-evoked relaxation. (b) Serum PTH. (c) Serum Ca.