FIGURE 3.

PI3-K/Akt axis is actively involved in RCE-driven relaxation of rat aorta. Endothelium-intact rings were exposed to cumulative doses of sumac in the absence (circles) or prior presence of (A) Wortmannin (0.1 μM; squares) or (B) LY294002 (10 μM; squares). Data represents mean ± SEM (n = 7; p < 0.01 for RCE versus either Wortmannin + RCE or LY294002 + RCE). (C) Rings were incubated without or with RCE after having been pre-treated without (vehicle) or with wortmannin (0.1 μM) or LY294002 (10 μM) for 30 min. cGMP levels were then assayed. n = 7; ^∗p < 0.01.