Table 1.

Comparison of numeric data for initial peak Ca²⁺, sustained phase Ca²⁺, and overall NO output

		Ca2+ Peak, nM			Ca2+ 900 s, nM			NO 1,500 s (Relative to Basal-No Units)
	n	Means	SE	Fold luteal	Means	SE	Fold luteal	Means	SE	Fold luteal
Luteal
Iono	9	335.2	35.7	1.00				0.229	0.029	1.00
ATP	11	65.7	6.0	1.00	5.0	3.1	1.00	0.128	0.016	1.00
%Max								56.07%
Follicular
Iono	8	314.8	41.2	0.94				0.292	0.023	1.28*
ATP	10	71.9	14.2	1.09	6.2	2.5	1.24	0.190	0.025	1.48*
%Max								64.89%
Pregnant
Iono	12	333.8	27.4	1.00				0.442	0.067	1.93*†
ATP	12	125.2	18.9	1.90*†	19.3	5.6	3.85*	0.328	0.041	2.56*†
%Max								74.13%

All values are from data shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and are means ± SE; n = group sizes. Data are also reexpressed as fold mean luteal values. Overall nitric oxide (NO) output is as indicated by 4,5-diaminofluoresceine signal at 1,500 s. %Max is percentage of the NO produced in response to ATP relative to maximal NO output [in response to ionomycin (Iono)]. Relative to the luteal uterine artery endothelium (UA Endo) efficiency of 56.07%, follicular UA Endo improved by a further 8.82% and pregnancy UA Endo increased by 18.06% overall. Of note, relative changes in maximal endothelial NO synthase activity in pregnant UA Endo was even greater in response to ATP (as shown in Figs. 4 and 5).

^*P < 0.05, significance from luteal UA Endo response.

^†P < 0.05, significance from follicular UA Endo response.