Demethoxycurcumin Preserves Renovascular Function by Downregulating COX-2 Expression in Hypertension

Figure 3

Ex vivo DMC treatment enhances the attenuated endothelium-dependent relaxation and decreases the elevated endothelium-dependent contractions in the renal arteries from SHR, reducing the upregulated COX-2 expression in the renal vascular wall. Renal arteries from WKY rats showed high relaxation and small contractions evoked by Ach, whereas renal arteries from SHR showed impaired relaxation and huge contractions ((a)-(b)). Treatment of cultured renal arteries from SHR with DMC (10 µmol/L) for 12 hrs was followed by improved relaxation and inhibited contractions ((a)-(b)). Compared to the renal arteries from WKY, the arteries from SHR exhibited elevated COX-2 expression and DMC (10 µmol/L) treatment for 12 hrs reversed the higher COX-2 expression (c). Data are means ± SEM of 5-6 experiments. versus WKY; versus SHR control.

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