Fig 1.
Concentration-response curves to G1 vasodilation in pressurized uterine radial arteries from non-pregnant (NP) vs. pregnant (P) rats.
Uterine arteries were constricted with phenylephrine and then treated with the GPER agonist G1 at different concentration. An example of experimental records are showed in trace A and B for NP rat and in traces C and D for P rat. The Vasodilation of G1 was summarized in E and is expressed as a percentage of maximal relaxation (max) obtained in presence of papaverine and diltiazem. Data are reported as mean ± SEM; n indicates number of experiments. ***p <0.001.
Fig 2.
GPER expression in uterine radial arteries from nonpregnant and pregnant rats. Western blot showing.
GPER protein expression in uterine arteries homogenates from non-pregnant (NP) and pregnant (P) rats. Side panel shows densitometric analysis of the blot normalized to β-tubulin. Percentage changes were evaluated as mean ± SEM of 3 experiments for each group. °p < 0.05 for the expression in P vs NP.
Fig 3.
Effect of the specific GPER antagonist, G15, on G1 vasodilation in uterine radial arteries from pregnant rats.
Inhibition of G1 (10-7M; n = 8) induced vasodilation of uterine arteries from pregnant rats by the GPER-specific antagonist G15 (10-5M, G1 ± G15, n = 5). Vasodilation is expressed as a percentage of maximal relaxation (% max) measured in a relaxing solution containing papaverine and diltiazem. Data are reported as mean ± SEM. ***p<0.001.
Fig 4.
Effects of NOS inhibition and endothelial denudation on G1 vasodilation in uterine radial arteries from pregnant rats.
G1 (10−7 M) was tested on intact radial uterine arteries in absence (Control, n = 8) vs. the presence of the nitric oxide synthase inhibition using a combination of L-NNA+L-NAME (n = 5). G1 was also tested on radial uterine arteries without endothelium (Denuded, n = 5). Vasodilation is expressed as a percentage of maximal relaxation (max) in papaverine and diltiazem. Data are reported as mean ± SEM. ***p<0.001.
Fig 5.
Effects of guanylate cyclase and BKCa channel inhibition on G1 vasodilation of rat uterine radial arteries.
G1 (10−7 M) was tested on radial uterine arteries in absence (Control, n = 8) vs. presence of guanylate cyclase (ODQ, 10-5M, n = 5) or BKCa channel (paxilline 10-5M, n = 5) inhibition. Vasodilation is expressed as a percentage of maximal response (max) obtained in papaverine and diltiazem. Data are reported as mean ± SEM. ***p<0.001.