Figure 1.

Concentration-dependent relaxant effects of MEPY on phenylephrine (PE, 1 μM)-pre-contracted rat aortic rings with [(E+)] or without [(E-)] endothelium (A) in Krebs-Henseleit solution. Control groups were not treated with MEPY. The MEPY induced-relaxant traces of aortic rings with [(E+)] (B) or without [(E-)] endothelium (C). The relaxant effects of MEPY on isolated rat aortic rings were calculated as a percentage of the contraction in response to PE. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 8). ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01 vs. MEPY E (−).