Fig. 1.
Top: experimental protocol for rats with chronic heart failure (CHF) and rats with CHF treated with beetroot juice (CHF + BR). Rats were supplemented with NO3−-free (placebo) or NO3−-rich BR juice (1 mmol·kg−1·day−1) for 5 days. During the supplementation period, rats were familiarized with treadmill running for ∼5 min/day. BF, blood flow. Bottom: detailed timeline for measurement of skeletal muscle BF and vascular conductance (VC) during exercise in CHF and CHF + BR rats. A ∼0.3-ml blood sample was taken from the carotid artery catheter prior to termination of exercise, and resting BF was measured following ∼1 h of recovery from exercise prior to euthanasia (not shown).