Figure 2.

Characterization of vascular function in the model of monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension. Endothelium-dependent (ACh) maximum relaxation was determined by isometric tension studies in aortic ring segments (a, c) and pulmonary ring segments (b, d) from rats treated with different doses of MCT and different time protocols for the induction of pulmonary hypertension. A total number of 4–22 (a, b) and 6–14 (c) and 6 (d) aortic and pulmonary artery ring segments from at least 3 male rats were used. ^∗p < 0.05 versus control (a–d); ^#p < 0.05 versus MCT30 (a, b) or 2 weeks (c, d); ^§p < 0.05 versus MCT40 (a, b).