Densitometric analysis of western blot for eNOS protein expression (A) and NO production (B) in aortic rings incubated with DAF (2 mmol·L

<p>^−<b>1</b><b>).</b> Representative blots are also shown. *P<0.05, by Student’s t-test.</p

Phenylephrine concentration-response curves after endothelium removal (A, B) or N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester incubation (L-NAME, 100 µM) (D, E) in the aortic rings of control and cadmium-exposed rats.

<p>E-: endothelium-denuded, E+: intact segments. Differences in the area under the concentration-response curves (dAUC) in endothelium–denuded and intact segments (C) and in the presence and absence of L-NAME (F). * and+P<0.05, Student’s t-test. The number of animals used is indicated in parentheses.</p

The effects of cadmium exposure on concentration-response curves to phenylephrine (A), acetylcholine (B) and sodium nitroprusside (C).

<p>*P<0.05, Student’s t-test. The number of animals used is indicated in parentheses.</p

Phenylephrine concentration-response curves in the aortic rings of control (A) and cadmium-exposed (B) rats after apocynin incubation.

<p>Differences in the area under the concentration-response curve (dAUC) in the aortic rings of control and cadmium-treated rats after apocynin incubation (C). Densitometric analysis of the western blot to measure the gp^91phox protein expression in aortic rings (D). Representative blots are also shown. *P<0.05, Student’s t-test. The number of animals used is indicated in parentheses.</p

The effects of endothelium removal (E⁻), L-NAME, losartan, enalapril, SOD, catalase and apocynin on the sensitivity (pD2) and maximal response (Emax) to phenylephrine in aortic rings from cadmium-treated and control rats.

<p>The results are expressed as the mean ± SEM; Emax, maximal effect expressed as a percentage of the response induced by 75 mM KCl; pD2, -log one-half Emax. E- endothelium removal, E+ intact endothelium, SOD, superoxide dismutase. P<0.05 <i>vs</i> control rats (^#) and cadmium-treated rats (*), determined using Student’s t-test.</p

The effects of cadmium exposure on systolic blood pressure in rats.

<p>*P<0.05 vs matched exposure day of control group.^#P<0.05 vs first day of exposure of Cd-exposure group, determined using two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni’s post-test. The number of animals used is indicated in parentheses.</p

Sensitivity (pD2) and maximal responses (Emax) to phenylephrine, acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside in aortic rings from cadmium-treated and control rats.

<p>The results are expressed as the mean ± SEM; Emax, maximal effect expressed as a percentage of the response induced by 75 mM KCl; pD2, -log one-half Emax. *P<0.05, Student’s t-test.</p

Changes in arterial pressure.

<p>Changes in systolic arterial pressure (SAP) and diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) before (Ct) and after Hexamethonium (Hexa) administration and following lead exposure (Hexa+Pb). *p<0.05 compared with untreated controls. The number of animals used is indicated in parentheses.</p

The effects of seven-day exposure to lead acetate on the concentration-response curves to phenylephrine (A), acetylcholine (B) and sodium nitroprusside (NSP; C) treatment in aortic rings.

<p>*P<0.05 by Student's <i>t-</i>test. Number of animals used is indicated in parentheses.</p

Changes in arterial pressure.

<p>Changes in systolic arterial pressure-SAP (A and C) and diastolic arterial pressure-DAP (B and D) before (Ct) and after Losartan (Los) or Enalapril (Enal) administration and following lead exposure (Los+Pb; Enal+Pb). A and B show the Losartan protocol; C and D show the Enalapril protocol. *p<0.05 compared with untreated controls. The number of animals used is indicated in parentheses.</p