Fig. 3.
Renal lymphatic vessels respond to factors known to regulate lymphatic vasoactivity. Vessels were challenged with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME; 10−3M), PGE2 (10−9 M), or the ATP-gated K+ (KATP) channel activator pinacidil (10−4 M). The following contractile parameters were measured: end-diastolic diameter (EDD; A), end-systolic diameter (ESD; B), frequency of contraction (C), amplitude of contraction (D), and ejection fraction (E). Baseline values were measured immediately prior to drug addiction. Data are expressed as means ± SE. Experimental values were compared with baseline values to determine statistical significance. PGE2 values were also compared with pinacidil values to determine statistically significant differences. n ≥ 7 vessels. EDD, end-diastolic diameter; ESD, end-systolic diameter.