Fig. 3.

Decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD3) activity in blood vessels contributes to impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in caveolin-1 knockout (KO) mice (Cav-1^−/−). A and B: isometric tension in mesenteric resistance arteries from Cav-1 wild-type (WT) and Cav-1^−/− mice was measured in isolated organ chambers using wire myography. Vasodilation was evoked by ACh (A) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (B) after preconstriction with phenylephrine (1–5 µM) in the presence of adeno-SOD3 (1 × 10¹² particles per mice) 3 days after intravenous injection in the tail vein of mice. Results are presented as means ± SE (n = 4–8). *P < 0.05 vs control.