Fig. 6

RhoA, ROCK1, and ROCK2 activities in rat coronary vascular smooth muscle cells. RhoA activation was measured using the luminescence-based G-LISA Activation Assay kit; ROCK1 and ROCK2 activities were detected using the Genmed Kinase Activity Spectroscopy Kit. Treatment with high glucose (23 mM D-glucose) resulted in an increase in the activities of RhoA (a), ROCK1 (b), and ROCK2 (c). Similarly, treatment with 5 μM peroxynitrite was associated with increases in RhoA (a), ROCK1 (b), and ROCK2 (c) activities; these effects could be partially inhibited by 100 μM urate (a scavenger of peroxynitrite). NG: 5.5 mM glucose; LG: 5.5 mM D-glucose plus 17.5 mM L-glucose; HG: 23 mM D-glucose; ONOO⁻: 5 μM peroxynitrite; DC-ONOO: 5 μM decomposed peroxynitrite; ONOO + Urate: 5 μM peroxynitrite and 100 μM urate (to scavenge peroxynitrite). Data are shown as mean ± SD (n = 5). * P < 0.05 compared with the NG group; ^& P < 0.05 compared with the ONOO⁻ group