Contractions during the Ca2+ loading period were evaluated in aorta from (A, C, E) Sham (white bars) and OVX (grey bars) WKY rats, or in aortas from (B, D, F) Sham (black bars) or OVX (hatched bars) SHRSP rats, in the (A, B) absence or in the (C-F) presence of thapsigargin. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM. * P< 0.05 vs. respective Sham; † P< 0.05 versus respective DMSO.