Fig. 7.

Estimates of the relative magnitudes of BK-dependent and BK-independent components of PKG activation on 5-HT-induced contractions. The total effects of PKG activation on the maximum contractile response to 5-HT were partitioned into BK-independent and BK-dependent components via calculation of differences in efficacy as defined in Fig. 6. Hypoxia virtually eliminated the BK-dependent component of PKG-mediated inhibition of 5-HT efficacy in both fetal and adult arteries. *Hypoxia attenuated total magnitude of effect of PKG on contractility in both fetal and adult arteries but had no significant effect on the BK-independent component. §All components of the PKG effect were significantly greater than zero except for the BK-dependent component in hypoxic arteries. Error bars indicate means ± SE for n ≥ 6.