Fig. 4.

Treatment with ER stress inhibitors TUDCA or PBA can attenuate enhanced expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 in the aorta from SHR. Top, representative Western blot images from endothelium-intact aortic homogenates (A and B), endothelium-denuded aortic homogenates (C and D), and aortic vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) homogenates (E and F) from WKY rats or SHR treated with vehicle (PBS), TUDCA (500 μM, 24 h), or PBA (500 μM, 24 h) showing expression of COX-1 (A, C, and E) and COX-2 (B, D, and F). Bottom, corresponding graphs showing the relative expression measured using densitometry analysis with values normalized to β-actin. Data for A–D are means ± SE (n = 6–9). Data for E and F are means ± SE from aortic VSMC isolated from 6 rats/group with experiments performed in duplicate. *P < 0.05 vs. control WKY rats.