Relaxation responses to BAY 41–2272 (an sGC stimulator) in mesenteric resistance arteries from Wistar and GK rats. A: mesenteric resistance arteries from female GK rats (n = 10) had reduced relaxation responses to BAY 41–2272 compared with arteries from Wistar rats (n = 8) (*P < 0.05, Wistar vs. GK). Inhibition of sGC by 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, 10−6 M) caused a rightward shift in the concentration response curves in arteries from Wistar (B) and GK (C) rats (#P < 0.05, BAY 41–2272 plus vehicle vs. BAY 41–2272 plus ODQ; n = 6 rats/group). D: BAY 41–2272 pEC50 was reduced in arteries from GK rats, and inhibition of sGC by ODQ abolished these group differences (*P < 0.05, Wistar vs. GK; #P < 0.05, BAY 41–2272 plus vehicle vs. BAY 41–2272 plus ODQ; n = 6 rats/group).