Fig. 6

Contribution of the nitric oxide bioavailability to the endothelial dysfunction in SHR administered kefir for 60 days. The line graph (a) shows the changes in the dose–response to acetylcholine following the endothelial NO synthase blockade with N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). The bar graphs show the average values of the maximum response (b) and the difference in the area under the curve (ΔAUC, c) calculated from the dose–response curve obtained during the blockade of the basal NO/cGMP molecular pathway with L-NAME. The bar graph d shows the basal NO/cGMP molecular pathway activation, indicated by the phenylephrine-induced contraction of the aortic rings during the setting of endothelial NO synthase blockade via L-NAME, comparing the 3 groups of animals. The values are the mean ± SEM (n = 7–8 per group). *p < 0.05 vs. Wistar group; ^#p < 0.05 vs. SHR [two-way (a) and one-way (b–d) ANOVA]