Figure 5. Impaired cAMP-dependent vascular relaxation in an endothelium-independent manner.

Shown are the cumulative concentration responses to ISO of aortic rings isolated from 12-wk-old IEX-1 KO and WT mice in the absence and presence of NAC (A), rotenone (B), PTX (C) or endothelium (D). Aortic rings were incubated for 2 hrs with NAC or rotenone and for 1 hr with PTX or endothelium denudation before measuring the response to ISO. Data are expressed as mean % ± SEM of relaxation relative to the contraction induced by 10⁶ M PE; n = 8. * p<0.05, ** p<0.01 and *** p<0.001, respectively, in the presence or absence of the anti-oxidants, PTX or IEX-1.