Fig 1.
Effect of PEA on EDHF-mediated relaxation on mesenteric arterial bed on stable tone of MTX.
In order to visualize the contribution of EDHF in mesenteric bed, a curve concentration-response to Ach (1–1000 pmoles) in Krebs solution medicated with INDO (10 μM) and L-NAME (100 μM) was performed on MTX stable tone. (A) The EDHF-mediated relaxation resulted significantly reduced in SHR compared with WKY (*P<0.05). The treatment with PEA significantly increased EDHF-mediated relaxation in SHR compared with SHR group (###P<0.001). (B) The increase in perfusion pressure (mmHg) achieved by the adding of INDO (10 μM) plus L-NAME (100 μM) was significantly higher in PEA-treated SHR compared to SHR (##P<0.01). Data are expressed as means ± SEM for 4–5 different animals.
Fig 2.
Effect of PEA on CYP2C23 and CYP2J2 protein expression in mesenteric bed and carotid.
Representative Western blots show bands in mesenteric bed (A and B) and carotid (C and D) of SHR and WKY rats. Densitometric evaluations of protein levels were obtained from 5 different animals. Data are expressed as means ± SEM. *P<0.05 and ***P<0.001 vs WKY; #P<0.05 and ###P<0.001 vs SHR.
Fig 3.
sEH protein expression in mesenteric bed and carotid and its modulation by PEA treatment.
Immunoblot of sEH and densitometric analysis of protein band from mesenteric bed (A) and carotid (B) of SHR and WKY rats are shown. Serum 14-15DHET (ng/ml) is reported in panel C. Data are expressed as means ± SEM. *P<0.05 and ***P<0.001 vs WKY; #P<0.05, ##P<0.01, and and ###P<0.001 vs SHR.
Fig 4.
Effect of PEA on AT1 and ACE protein expression in mesenteric bed and carotid.
Representative Western blots show bands in mesenteric bed (A and B) and carotid (C and D) of SHR and WKY rats. Densitometric evaluations of protein levels were obtained from 5 different animals. Data are expressed as means ± SEM. *P<0.05, **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001 vs WKY; ##P<0.01 and ###P<0.001 vs SHR.
Fig 5.
Activation of transcription factors in mesenteric bed and its modulation by PEA treatment.
IκBα (A), pSTAT3/STAT (B), and pERK1/2 (C) immunoblots are shown. Densitometric evaluations of protein levels were obtained from 5 different animals. Data are expressed as means ± SEM. *P<0.05 and **P<0.01 vs WKY; #P<0.05, ##P<0.01 and ###P<0.001 vs SHR.