Figure 2. Pendrin gene ablation increases force/cross-sectional area and decreases thickness of the aorta.

Aortic rings from wild type and pendrin null mice were isometrically mounted. Maximum force generated/cross sectional area was measured in response to KCl (Panel A) and phenylephrine (PE, Panel B) (n = 5–9). Cross sectional area (CSA, Panel C) was measured in the same vessels using the relationship 2 x wet weight/circumference. Aorta thickness (Panel D) was measured in transverse sections using a calilbrated micrometer in pendrin null (n = 4) and wild type mice (n = 5). The body weights for aorta thickness measurements were 30.0±0.8 g in wild type versus 26.8±1.1 g in pendrin null mice. *p<0.05.