Figure 4.

Relative mRNA expression of genes involved in the regulation of vascular tone, including vasoconstriction (endothelin 1 (EDN‐1)), vasodilatation (endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)), and laminar flow shear stress (Krüppel‐like factor 2 (KLF‐2)) in both the rat (respectively, a–c) and porcine study (h). Genes involved in the activation of the endothelium, playing a role in platelet (von Willebrand factor (vWF)) and leukocyte adhesion (vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM‐1)), and inflammatory processes (IL‐6) were assessed in rat (respectively, d–f) and porcine kidneys (i). Heat‐shock protein 70 (HSP‐70) expression was evaluated as well in both rat and porcine kidneys (respectively, g, i). Data are presented as mean ± standard error of the mean. Groups contain 5–7 kidneys. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.