FIG. 6.

Effects of organic nitrate treatment on the expression of vascular eNOS, GCH-I, and DHFR and phosphorylation, as well as the S-glutathionylation state of eNOS in diabetic rats. eNOS (A), Ser1177-phospho-eNOS (B), the ratio of Ser1177-phospho-eNOS to eNOS (C), GCH-I (D), and DHFR (E) were assessed using the Western blotting technique and specific antibodies. F: S-glutathionylation of eNOS was determined by eNOS immunoprecipitation, followed by anti-glutathione staining. After stripping the membrane, the bands were stained for eNOS to allow normalization of the signals. As a control for the specificity of the antibody for GSH-positive proteins, diabetic samples were treated with β-mercaptoethanol. Representative blots are shown at the bottom of each densitometric quantification. Data are the means ± SEM of aortic rings from 6–15 (A, D, and E) and 5–8 (B, C, and F) animals per group. *P < 0.05 vs. control; #P < 0.05 vs. STZ; $P < 0.05 vs. PETN.