Effect of pregnancy on DEA-NO vasodilation and superoxide anion production.

<p>(A) Vasodilator response to NO donor DEA-NO in segments from control and pregnant rats. Effect of preincubation with tempol (0.1 mmol/L) on vasodilator response to NO donor DEA-NO in segments from (B) control and (C) pregnant rats. Results (mean±SEM) are expressed as a percentage of the previous tone elicited by exogenous NA. ANOVA P<0.05 vs. conditions without tempol in both experimental groups. *P<0.05 vs. conditions without tempol for each concentration (Bonferroni test). n = 7 animals per group. Insert graph shows differences of area under curve (dAUC) in the absence or presence of 0.1 mmol/L tempol; dAUC values are expressed as arbitrary units. (D) Effect of 0.3 mmol/L apocinin or 0.1 mmol/L allopurinol on superoxide anion release in mesenteric segments from control and pregnant rats. Results (mean±SEM) are expressed as chemoluminiscence units (U)/min mg tissue. *P<0.05 vs. Control; #P<0.05 compared with conditions without specific inhibitor; n = 7 animals per group.