Effect of Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibition and NF-κB inhibition on ANG II-induced AGT mRNA augmentation in preglomerular VSMCs. A: preglomerular VSMCs were preincubated with H-1,152 (10 μmol/l) for 30 min and then ANG II (100 pmol/l) for 24 h (n = 8). B: preglomerular VSMCs were treated with Lipofectamine RNAiMAX reagent and 100 pmol ROCK1 small interfering (si) RNA. After 24-h transfection, cells were incubated with or without ANG II (100 pmol/l) for 24 h (n = 3). C: preglomerular VSMCs were incubated with parthenolide (10 μmol/l) for 30 min and then ANG II (100 pmol/l) for 24 h (n = 8–12). Values are means ± SE. A and C: *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 vs. control. #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01 vs. ANG II-treated group. B: **P < 0.01 vs. negative siRNA without ANG II. #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01 vs. negative siRNA with ANG II-treated group.