Figure 8. Nr2f2^mutant rats demonstrated superior vascular function compared with hypertensive rats.

(A). Mesenteric arteries from male hypertensive rats (n=9) and Nr2f2^mutant rats (n=4) were dissected and mounted as described under the methods section. Endothelium-dependent relaxation to Acetylcholine (Ach) was assessed by adding increasing concentrations of ACh (0.001–1μM) to the vessel preparation. Relaxation to ACh was expressed as a percentage of the level of pre-constriction induced by submaximal dose of phenylephrine. (B). Cumulative concentration-response curves (CCRC) to phenylephrine (0.1–100μM) of mesentery were recorded from wild-type hypertensive (n=9) and Nr2f2^mutant rats (n=4). Results are expressed as mean±S.E. (C). Mesenteric arteries from male hypertensive (n=5) and Nr2f2^mutant rats (n=5) were dissected and mounted as described under the methods section. Endothelium-independent relaxation to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was assessed by adding increasing concentrations of SNP (1nM–100μM) to the vessel preparation. Relaxation to SNP was expressed as a percentage of the level of pre-constriction induced by submaximal dose of phenylephrine. Data were analyzed by t-test. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001. NS, Not significant.