Fig. 7

Down-regulated RhoA expression contributed to propofol-induced excessive relaxation in Ang II-pretreated HUASMCs. A, B western blot was used to test RhoA expression. GAPDH served as a loading control. n = 3 per group in (A) and n = 4 per group in (B). C “Parachute” dye coupling assay was applied to measure the function of GJs. In merged images, donor cells were stained in yellow by Calcein (green) and Dil (red); receiver cells were stained in green with Calcein. Each dot represents the ratio of “recipient cells” (green)/ “donor cells” (yellow) in one field. Three different fields were captured in every experiment. The experiment was repeated 4 times (n = 4 per group). D F-actin was stained with FITC-phalloidin (green) and cell nuclei was stained with DAPI (blue) in HUASMCs. Each dot represents the fluorescence intensity of one field. Three different fields were captured in every experiment. The experiment was repeated 4 times (n = 4 per group). E p-MLC2 and MLC2 were labeled by cellular immunofluorescence (red) and cell nuclei were stained by DAPI (blue) in HUASMCs. Each dot represents the fluorescence intensity of one field. Three different fields were captured in every experiment. The experiment was repeated 4 times (n = 4 per group). *p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001. All values expressed as mean ± SEM