Figure 6.

Female sex hormones are critical for Dfen-induced PAH. Dfen-induced increases in (A) sRVP (n = 11, 11, 9, 9, respectively) and (B) pulmonary vascular remodelling (n = 4) were inhibited in ovariectomized mice. Ovariectomized mice show a modest increase in sRVP (A) and pulmonary vascular remodelling (B) compared with sham-operated controls. (C) Representative images of resistance pulmonary arteries stained with Elastica-Van Gieson. Dfen administration or ovariectomy had no effects on (D) RVH (n = 12), (E) mSAP (n = 10, 7, 9, 9, respectively), and (F) heart rate (n = 11, 12, 9, 10, respectively). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Data were analysed by two-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni’s post-test. **P < 0.001, ***P < 0.001 vs. female vehicle-dosed mice ^††P < 0.01, ^†††P < 0.001 vs. female Dfen-dosed mice. Scale bars represent 20 µm.