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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2021 Dec 1.
Published in final edited form as: Hypertension. 2020 Oct 5;76(6):1787–1799. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.16118

Figure 4. Model of progressive PAH in males.

Figure 4.

To mimic the sex difference in PAH severity, rats were injected with a high dose of SU5416 (50 mg/kg s.c.) followed by 1 week of exposure to hypoxia (10% of O2). There was a significant elevation of right ventricle (RV) systolic pressure (RVSP, A) and RV hypertrophy (B) in both sexes, although the changes in males were significantly more severe compared to females. At the same time, the initial sex difference in RV contractility (C) and relaxation function (D) was eliminated by PAH, suggesting that RV in males did not respond adequately to the demand. The contractility index (E) as an additional measure of RV performance was decreased in male but not female PAH rats. Data presented as Mean±SEM, ***P<0.001 vs. sex-matched Controls; §§P<0.01, §§§P<0.001 vs. Male Control. N=8 in all groups.