Figure 4

Nitroprusside-induced vasodilatations in C57 and PAR2^-/- mice administered saline and ANG II. C57BL/6J (C57) and protease-activated receptor 2 gene knockout (PAR2^-/-) mice were pretreated with saline or angiotensin II (ANG II) for two weeks prior to experiments. Values are the mean ± SE (n = number of mice) for nitroprusside-induced relaxations of second order mesenteric arteries contracted submaximally by cirazoline. Arteries were exposed to inhibitors for 20 min prior to contraction by cirazoline and the cumulative addition of nitroprusside. Relaxation (%) represents the reversal of the contraction. *P < 0.05, saline C57 vs. ANG II C57 in -log EC₅₀. Comparisons by two-way ANOVA (pump × inhibitors) followed by Bonferroni post hoc test.