Figure 3.

AMPKα activation by metformin (Met) reverses Ang II‐induced ER stress. (A) Effects of Ang II on AMPKα phosphorylation (pAMPKα) in hVSMCs. Representative blots from three independent experiments are shown. For each of these panels, data from these experiments were quantified. n = 5, *P < 0.05, significantly different from vehicle (Veh). (B) Effects of metformin on pAMPKα in hVSMCs. Representative blots from four independent experiments are shown. n = 5, *P < 0.05, significantly different from Veh. (C) Effects of metformin on tunicamycin (Tunica)‐induced ER stress biomarkers in hVSMCs. n = 5, *P < 0.05, significantly different from Veh/DMSO. †P < 0.05, significantly different from Tunica/Veh. (D) Effects of metformin on Ang II‐induced ER stress biomarkers in hVSMCs. Representative blots from three independent experiments are shown. n = 5, *P < 0.05, significantly different from Veh. †P < 0.05, significantly different from Veh/Ang II. (E) Effects of metformin on Ang II‐elevated intracellular Ca²⁺ levels in hVSMCs. n = 6,*P < 0.05, significantly different from Veh. †P < 0.05, significantly different from Ang II. (F) Effects of Met on Ang II‐reduced ER Ca²⁺ levels in hVSMCs. n = 6, *P < 0.05, significantly different from Veh. †P < 0.05, significantly different from Ang II. Con, control.