Concentration-response curve for increasing extracellular [Ca⁺⁺] in isolated left ventricular papillary muscles from control and lead-treated rats.

<p>Symbols represent mean ± SEM. Open circles- controls (N = 9), filled squares- lead treated group (N = 10). *<i>p</i><0.05, Ct-group <i>vs.</i> Pb-group, two-way repeated measures ANOVA, followed by Bonferroni’s test.</p

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<p>Effects of the specific NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor, apocynin (0.3 mM), on the concentration-response curves of phenylephrine in endothelium-intact aortic segments from both untreated and lead-treated rats. Each point represents the mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05 versus the corresponding control by Student’s t-test. The number of animals used is indicated in parentheses.</p

Effects of lead exposure on haemodynamic arterial and ventricular parameters in anaesthetised rats.

<p>Systolic Arterial Pressure (SAP); Diastolic Arterial Pressure (DAP); Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP); Left Ventricular Systolic Pressure (LVSP); End Left Ventricular Diastolic Pressure (LVDP); Right Ventricular Systolic Pressure (RVSP); End Right Ventricular Diastolic Pressure (RVDP); Left Ventricular Positive (dP/dt+LV) and Negative (dP/dt – LV) Derivates; Right Ventricular Positive (dP/dt+RV) and Negative (dP/dt – RV) Derivates; and Heart Rate (HR). Means ± SEM. Animal number range = 9–12.</p><p>*<i>p</i><0.05, as assessed using Unpaired Student’s t-test.</p

Protein expression levels of the ventricular calcium pump SR (SERCA 2), phospholamban (PLB), phospho-Tre¹⁷-PLB, phospho-Ser¹⁶-PLB, as well as the ratios phospho-Tre¹⁷-PLB/PLB and phospho-Ser¹⁶-PLB/PLB from controls (Ct) and lead treated (Pb) groups.

<p>Bands are representative of the Western blots of the expression of SERCA-2, PLB, phospho-Tre¹⁷-PLB, phospho-Ser¹⁶-PLB and GAPDH (Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase) are presented at the top of the figure. The results are expressed as the ratio between the area and density of SERCA-2 or PLB and GAPDH in the Ct- and Pb-groups. Number of animals = 7 for each group.*<i>p</i><0.05, Ct vs Pb, Student t<i>-</i>test.</p

Peak and plateau of the isometric force in isolated left ventricular papillary after tetanic stimulation in the absence and presence of verapamil (Ver) of control (Ct), lead treated (Pb), control+verapamil (Ct Ver), lead treatred+verapamil (Pb Ver).

<p>Each column represents the means ± SEM. Number of animals = 6 for each group. *<i>p</i><0.05, Pb <i>vs.</i> control, one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s test.</p

Protein expression levels of the ventricular α-1 Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase subunit.

<p>Bands that are representative of the Western blots of the expression of α-1 Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase subunit and GAPDH (Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase) are presented at the top of the figure. Results are expressed as the ratio between the area and density of α-1 Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase subunit and GAPDH in the control (Ct) and lead treated (Pb) groups. Number of animals = 7 for each group. <i>p</i>>0.05, Ct vs Pb, Student t<i>-</i>test.</p

Effects of the TEA in aortic segments from both untreated and lead-treated rats (A).

<p>Effects of the nonselective K⁺ channel blocker, TEA (2 mM) on the concentration-response curves of phenylephrine in endothelium-intact aortic segments from both untreated and lead-treated rats. The inset shows differences in dAUC in the presence and absence of TEA. Effects of the co-incubation of catalase/TEA in aortic segments from untreated and lead-treated rats (B). Effects of the co-incubation of catalase (1000 U/mL) with TEA (2 mM) on the concentration-response curves of phenylephrine in endothelium-intact aortic segments from both untreated and lead-treated rats. Each point represents the mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05 versus the corresponding control by Student’s t-test. The number of animals used is indicated in parentheses.</p

Effects of L-NAME (100 mM) treatment in aortic rings from both untreated and lead-treated rats.

<p>Effects of L-NAME (100 mM) treatment on phenylephrine-induced vasoconstriction in aortic rings from both untreated and lead-treated rats. The graph demonstrates that there are no differences in the areas under the concentration-response curves (dAUC) between the groups. Each point represents the mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05 versus the corresponding control by Student’s t-test. The number of animals used is indicated in parentheses.</p

Effects of the DETCA in endothelium-intact aortic segments from both untreated and lead-treated rats.

<p>Effects of the inhibitor Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, DETCA (0.5 mM), on the concentration-response curves of phenylephrine in endothelium-intact aortic segments from both untreated and lead-treated rats. Each point represents the mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05 versus the corresponding control by Student’s t-test. The number of animals used is indicated in parentheses.</p

Effects of exposure to lead on the concentration-response curves of phenylephrine, acetylcholine, and sodium nitroprusside.

<p>Effects of 30 days of exposure to lead acetate on the concentration-response curves of (A) phenylephrine, (B) acetylcholine, and (C) sodium nitroprusside (SNP) treatment of aortic rings. Each point represents the mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05 by Student’s <i>t</i> test. *p < 0.05 versus the corresponding control by Student’s t-test. The number of animals used is indicated in parentheses.</p