Figure 5 | Scientific Reports

Figure 5

From: Antagonism of Nav channels and α1-adrenergic receptors contributes to vascular smooth muscle effects of ranolazine

Figure 5

Vasorelaxant effects of ranolazine on human uterine arteries.

Ranolazine inhibition of Nav channels and α-adrenergic responses was observed in human uterine arteries. (A) The effects of ranolazine were evaluated in the absence of endothelium on the contractile response to KCl. Typical recordings illustrate the variations of isometric tension induced by cumulative addition of KCl (1 to 80 mM) in the absence and in the presence of ranolazine (20 μM). The graph shows dose-response curves for KCl under basal condition (Ctl) and in the presence of ranolazine. Data represent the percentage of contraction relative to the maximal tension induced by KCl. The inset shows the maximal contraction (in g) induced by KCl for the control and in the presence of ranolazine. (B) The effects of ranolazine were evaluated on the contractile response of uterine artery to Phe. (a) Arterial segments previously contracted with a submaximal concentration of Phe (10 μM) were then subjected to vasorelaxation induced by cumulative concentrations of ranolazine (0.1 to 100 μM). The right panel shows the dose-response curve for ranolazine. Data represent the percentage of contraction relative to the maximal tension induced by Phe (10 μM). (b) The contractile response to Phe was evaluated in the presence of ranolazine (20 μM) and the dose-response curve was compared to that obtained in absence of ranolazine. The inset shows the maximal contraction (in g) induced by Phe (200 μM) for the control and in the presence of ranolazine. Data were obtained from 6 different specimens of uterine arteries; each protocol was performed in triplicate. **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, two-way Anova followed by Bonferroni post-test.

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