Effect of the IUGR and aerobic training on the vascular superoxide concentration.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Histogram and (<b>B</b>) digital images illustrate the presence of superoxide in dihydroethidium (DHE)-treated sections of aortic rings from SC, SRT, TC, and TRT rats. Values are expressed as the means ± SEM from six animals per group. Two-way ANOVA analysis was performed to assess the effects of IUGR, aerobic training and of their interaction (IUGR X Trained). <i>**P = 0.001</i> in Tukey’s post Hoc test.</p

Role of the angiotensin II stimulation on the vascular superoxide production.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Histogram and (<b>B</b>) digital images illustrate the presence of superoxide in dihydroethidium (DHE)-treated sections of aortic rings from SC, SRT, TC, and TRT rats under basal conditions and following stimulation with angiotensin II (Ang II: 10⁻⁴M). Three-way ANOVA analysis was performed to assess the effects of IUGR, aerobic training, Ang II treatment and of their interactions. Values are expressed as the mean ± SEM from six animals per group. <i>**P = 0.001</i> and <i>*P<0.05</i> in Tukey’s post Hoc test.</p

Birth Weight, Hemodynamic Measurements, and Maximal Response to Angiotensin II in the experimental groups.

<p>Data are mean ±SEM. (n) number of rats.</p>#<p><i>P</i><0.05 <i>vs.</i> SC; TC and TRT after a Tukey’s <i>post hoc</i> test.</p>‡<p><i>P</i><0.05 <i>vs. S</i>C and ^‡‡<i>vs.</i> SRT after a <i>Tukey post hoc</i> test.</p><p>Birth Weight, Hemodynamic Measurements, and Maximal Response to Angiotensin II in the experimental groups.</p

Effect of the AT₁ receptor antagonist on the vascular superoxide production and expression profile of aortic AT₁ receptor.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Histogram and (<b>B</b>) digital images illustrate the presence of superoxide in dihydroethidium (DHE)-treated sections of aortic rings from SC, SRT, TC, and TRT rats under basal conditions and in the presence of losartan (Los: 10⁻⁴M). Three-way ANOVA analysis was performed to assess the effects of IUGR, aerobic training, losartan treatment and of their interactions. (<b>C</b>) Representative immunoblots and the corresponding optical density of AT₁ receptors normalized to the optical density of α-actin. Two-way ANOVA analysis was performed to assess the effects of IUGR, aerobic training and of their interaction. Values are expressed as the mean ± SEM from six animals per group. <i>*P<0.05</i> in Tukey’s post Hoc test.</p

Effect of the IUGR and aerobic training on the vascular reactivity to Angiotensin II.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Dose-dependent contractions (<b>B</b>) Maximal response to angiotensin II in aortic rings isolated from the sedentary control (SC), sedentary restricted (SRT), trained control (TC), and trained restricted (TRT) groups. Values are expressed as the mean ± SEM from seven animals per group. Two-way ANOVA analysis was performed to assess the effects of IUGR, aerobic training and of their interaction (IUGR X Trained) on the aortic contractile responses. <i>**P = 0.001</i> and <i>***P<0.001</i> in Tukey’s post Hoc test.</p

Expression profile of aortic SOD isoforms.

<p>Western blot analyses of CuZnSOD (<b>A</b>) and MnSOD (<b>B</b>) protein expression in thoracic aortas from SC, SRT, TC, and TRT rats. Representative immunoblots and the corresponding optical density normalized to the optical density of α-actin. Values are expressed as the mean ± SEM from five animals per group. Two-way ANOVA analysis was performed to assess the effects of IUGR, aerobic training and of their interaction (IUGR X Trained). <i>*P<0.05</i> in Tukey’s post Hoc test.</p

Effect of the AT₂ receptor antagonist on the vascular superoxide production and expression profile of aortic AT₂ receptor.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Histogram and (<b>B</b>) digital images illustrate the presence of superoxide in dihydroethidium (DHE)-treated sections of aortic rings from SC, SRT, TC, and TRT rats under basal conditions and in the presence of PD 123,319 (PD: 10⁻⁴M). Three-way ANOVA analysis was performed to assess the effects of IUGR, aerobic training, PD 123,319 treatment and of their interactions. (<b>C</b>) Representative immunoblots and the corresponding optical density of AT₂ receptors normalized to the optical density of α-actin. Two-way ANOVA analysis was performed to assess the effects of IUGR, aerobic training and of their interaction. Values are expressed as the mean ± SEM from six animals per group. <i>**P = 0.001</i> and <i>*P<0.05</i> in Tukey’s post Hoc test.</p

Representative histogram of the AT₁/AT₂ ratio in thoracic aortas of SC, SRT, TC, and TRT rats.

<p>Values are expressed as the mean ± SEM from six animals per group. Two-way ANOVA analysis was performed to assess the effects of IUGR, aerobic training and of their interaction (IUGR X Trained). <i>**P = 0.001</i> in Tukey’s post Hoc test.</p

Effect of obesity on cannabinoid receptors protein expression in mesenteric arteries.

<p>Panels show densitometric analysis of the Western blots for CB₁ and CB₂ protein expression in vessels from lean Zucker rats (LZRs) and obese Zucker rats (OZRs). In <b>A</b> and <b>B</b>, Western blots for CB₁ and CB₂ receptors, respectively. In <b>C</b>, Western blots for TRPV1 receptors. Results were normalized to β-actin expression and expressed as units of change from the control. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. *, P<0.05 vs. LZR. N = 5/group.</p

Involvement of TRPV1 receptors on sensory C-fibres in anandamide responses.

<p>In <b>A</b>, in vitro C-fiber desensitization was induced using the selective neurotoxin capsaicin (1 µM). In <b>B</b> and <b>C</b>, vessels were pretreated with the TRPV1 blockers, ruthenium red (30 µM, 30 minutes) and capsazepine, respectively (3 µM, 30 minutes). In <b>D</b>, vessels were pretreated with the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist α-CGRP (8–37) (10 µM, 30 minutes). The relaxation to anandamide was evaluated in U46619-precontracted mesenteric arteries from lean Zucker rats (LZRs) and obese Zucker rats (OZRs). Each point represents the mean ± SEM. *P<0.05 vs. LZR, #P<0.05 vs. respective group in the absence of blockade. N = 6/group.</p