Figure 2

IL-1β impairs vascular reactivity. (A) Effect of IL-1β ( 1, 2.5, 5, and 10 ng/mL) on the endothelium-dependent relaxations induced by acetylcholine (ACh, 0.1 nmol/L to 10 μmol/L) in isolated mesenteric arteries from control Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats. Data are expressed (means ± SE) as the percentage of the previous contraction induced with 1 μmol/L noradrenaline (NA). The number of segments used for every curve, which were obtained from 5 to 12 animals, as well as the statistical significance are in parenthesis. (B) Effect of IL1β (2.5, 5, and 10 ng/mL) on the endothelium-independent relaxations induced by sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 1 nmol/L to 10 μmol/L) in isolated mesenteric arteries from control SD rats. Data are expressed as the percentage of the pre-contraction induced with 1 μmol/L NA. The number of segments used for every curve, which were obtained from 4 animals, as well as the statistical significance are in parenthesis.