The vasorelaxing effect of resveratrol on abdominal aorta from rats and its underlying mechanisms

(A) The endothelial-dependent and endothelial-independent manner of Res' vasorelaxation action. (B) Res relaxes vessel by inhibiting extracellular calcium influx and intracellular calcium release. This figure suggests that Res can exert its vasorelaxing effect in both endothelial-dependent and endothelial-independent manners. Res contributes to the synthesis and secretion of the endothelial-dependent vasodilator NO in endothelial cells, which mediates the vasorelaxing effect of Res. K+ATP channel and BKCa are probably involved in vasorelaxation induced by Res. Res might exert its vasorelaxing effect by opening K+ channel to hyperpolarize vascular smooth muscle. And Res can inhibit not only the extracellular calcium influx but also intracellular calcium release in smooth muscle cells. SR: sarcoplasmic reticulum.92