Figure 3

Expressions and/or functions of EP3, TP and IP. (A) β-actin normalized EP3 mRNA level detected by real-time PCR in WKY and SHR vessels. N = 6 for each. (B) Representative Western blots of TP and IP (left lane: WKY; right lane: SHR) and summary of results (from 5 replicates) showing the band density of TP or IP normalized by that β-actin in WKY and SHR mesenteric resistance arteries. Full length representative Western blots of TP and IP bands and that of β-actin were presented in the supplementary file. In (A) and (B), the normalized EP3 mRNA level, TP and IP band densities were expressed relative to the average of WKY vessels (which was assumed a value of 1.0). ^* P < 0.05 and ^** P < 0.01 vs. the value in WKY. (C) Contractions evoked by the TP agonist U46619 in L-NAME-treated WKY and SHR vessels and that of SHR vessels obtained with TP antagonist SQ29548 (10 μM; SHR/SQ) or the EP3 antagonist L798106 (1 μM; SHR/L). (D) PGI₂-evoked relaxation in L-NAME-treated WKY and SHR vessels precontracted with PE (3 μM) after both EP3 and TP were antagonized (with L798106 and SQ29548). In (C) and (D), n = 5 for each; ^** P < 0.01 vs. WKY; ⁺⁺ P < 0.01 vs. SHR; ^{^^}P < 0.01 vs. SHR/L.