Figure 1.
Effect of KCl (51 mM) (A, B) and PHE (10−5 M) (C, D) on vasoconstriction and [Ca2+]i in mesenteric microvessels of virgin and pregnant (Preg) rats. Images of fura-2 loaded microvessels from virgin and pregnant rats were taken at rest and after stimulation with KCl or PHE. Simultaneous measurements of microvessel diameter, fura-2340 and 380 nm fluorescence signal, and 340/380 ratio were recorded. Cumulative KCl or PHE-induced vasoconstriction, 340/380 ratio, and vasoconstriction over Δ 340/340 ratio in mesenteric microvessels of virgin and pregnant rats were presented as means ± SEM, n = 8–12 different rats per group. # Measurements during stimulation with PHE (C and D) are significantly different (P < 0.05) from corresponding KCl measurements (A and B).