Impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation in the CC.

<p>Concentration-response curves to acetylcholine (ACh, 0.001–3 µmol/l) were analysed at 4 (panel <b>A</b>), 12 (panel <b>B</b>), and 24 wks of age (panel <b>C</b>) in CC precontracted with phenylephrine (PE, 10 µmol/l). The maximal efficiency (E_max) and potency (pEC₅₀) values of ACh-induced aortic relaxation of WT and Akita are presented in panels <b>D</b> and <b>E</b>. Data were calculated relative to the maximal changes from the contraction produced by PE, which was taken as 100%. Data are the means ± S.E.M. of 4–7 experiments. * <i>p</i><0.05, compared with its WT mice group.^#<i>p</i><0.05, compared to WT mice at 4 wks of age.