Figure 4. Increased α₁-adrenergic contraction in small mesenteric arteries from cavin-1-deficient mice.

A) Original traces showing contraction to 60 mM KCl and to cumulative addition of cirazoline in one representative wild type (WT; black) and knock out (KO; grey) mouse. Concentration-response curves for the α₁-adrenergic agonist cirazoline (C, control conditions; D, +300 μM of the NOS-inhibitor L-NAME; E, in the presence of 20 μM ODQ; F, in the presence of 10 μM ryanodine; G, in the presence of 20 μM dynasore) in small mesenteric arteries shows increased α₁-adrenergic contractility in the absence of cavin-1. As a reference, contraction to cirazoline in WT and KO is replicated in grey in panel D, E, F and G. The statistical difference between WT-drug and KO-drug is indicated by the p-value in the graphs. Panel B shows integrated force in response to depolarization (60 mM KCl).