Oxidative stress induces BH4 deficiency in male, but not female, SHR

Figures

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  Figure 1. Tempol decreases measures of oxidative stress independent of BP (A) Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured by radiotelemetry in male and female SHR receiving tempol (30 mg/kg/day) in drinking water, n=5. Data are presented as mean ± S.E.M., *P<0.05 compared with male. (B) Plasma levels of 3-NT were measured in vehicle control (n=5) and tempol-treated (n=8) male and female SHR by Dot blot analysis.

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  Figure 2. Tempol treatment abolishes the sex difference in IM NOS activity and dependency on exogenous BH4 Total NOS enzymatic activity in the renal IM of vehicle control ((A); n=11–12) and tempol-treated ((B); n=8–9) male and female SHR (n=8–12) with and without the addition of exogenous BH4.

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  Figure 3. Male SHR have lower biopterin levels in the renal IM compared with female SHR HPLC analysis of total biopterins (A), BH2 (B), and BH4 levels (C) in renal IM of vehicle control and tempol-treated male and female SHR (n=4–5).

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  Figure 4. GTP cyclohydrolase expression is comparable in male and female SHR GTP cyclohydrolase 1 protein was measured by Western blot analysis in renal IM of vehicle control male and female SHR (n=8). Data are shown normalized to actin.

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  Figure 5. Exogenous BH4 treatment in male SHR abolishes sex differences in biopterins HPLC analysis of total biopterins (A), BH2 (B), and BH4 levels (C) in renal IM of vehicle control and BH4-treated male SHR (n=4).

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  Figure 6. Exogenous BH4 treatment decreased systolic BP and NOS activity in male SHR BP, measured by tail-cuff analysis ((A); n=4) and IM NOS activity ((B); n=8) in vehicle control and BH4-treated male SHR.