Skip to main content
. 2020 Dec 12;9(24):e018327. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.120.018327

Figure 6. Connexin 40 (Cx40) overexpression increases vascular relaxation and decreases right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) in hypoxia‐exposed mice.

Figure 6

A, Cx40 protein level in mouse pulmonary endothelial cells (ECs) from normoxia‐exposed control adenovirus (Cont‐Adv)–injected mouse (Nor+Cont‐Adv), hypoxia‐exposed Cont‐Adv–injected mouse (Hypo+Cont‐Adv), and hypoxia‐exposed Cx40‐Adv–injected mouse (Hypo+Cx40‐Adv). Dot plot shows summarized data. Nmice=5 per group. B, Vascular response in small distal (fourth‐fifth order) pulmonary arteries. Nor+Cont‐Adv, nmice=10; Hypo+Cont‐Adv, nmice=11; Hypo+Cx40‐Adv, nmice=10. Left: EC‐dependent relaxation. Middle: Endothelium‐dependent hyperpolarization (EDH)–mediated relaxation. Right: Smooth muscle (SM)–dependent relaxation. C, Typical record of right ventricular pressure (RVP) and summarized data of RVSP. Nor+Cont‐Adv, nmice=7; Hypo+Cont‐Adv, nmice=7; Hypo+Cx40‐Adv, nmice=5. D, Fulton Index (right ventricle [RV]/(left ventricle [LV]+septum [S])). Nor+Cont‐Adv, nmice=5; Hypo+Cont‐Adv, nmice=5; Hypo+Cx40‐Adv, nmice=4. Data are mean±SEM. *P<0.05 vs Nor+Cont‐Adv. # P<0.05 vs Hypo+Cont‐Adv. Statistical comparison of dose‐response curves among 3 groups was made by 2‐way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc test. Statistical comparison of RVSP among 3 groups was made by 1‐way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc test. ACh indicates acetylcholine; and SNP, sodium nitroprusside.