Fig. 6

Comparison of resting level of Ca²⁺ fluorescence intensity and maximal increases of Ca²⁺ fluorescence intensity in cerebral VSMCs isolated from CON, CON +100 mg/kg/day berberine, Diabetic, and diabetic +100 mg/kg/day berberine rats. Representative dot graph of Fluo-3/AM fluorescence recorded showed the typical transient increases of intracellular Ca²⁺ fluorescence intensity evoked by 10 mM caffeine (A). Summarized data indicated the average changes of the intracellular Ca²⁺ fluorescence intensity before and during the application of caffeine (B). Chronic administration of 100 mg/kg/day berberine significantly not only decreased the resting [Ca²⁺]_i level, but also suppressed the Ca²⁺ releases from RyRs in cerebral VSMCs isolated from diabetic rats. CON control rats, CON + berberine control rats administrated with berberine (100 mg/kg/day), Diabetic diabetic rats, diabetic + berberine diabetic rats administrated with berberine (100 mg/kg/day). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM and at least n = 10 cells recorded in each group. *P < 0.05 vs. CON rats and ^# P < 0.05 vs. diabetic rats