Fig. 1
Defective autophagy in VSMCs increases arterial stiffness at high pressures. Pressure-dependency of diastolic diameter (a), compliance (b) and Ep (c) of Atg7+/+ SM22α-Cre+ (+/+) and Atg7F/F SM22α-Cre+ (F/F) aortic segments (n = 7). Pulse pressure was always 40 mmHg, hence each mean pressure point is ± 20 mmHg (stretch frequency 10 Hz). Two-way ANOVA with pressure and genotype effect indicated and with Sidak’s multiple comparisons post-test. *p < 0.05 **p < 0.01 ***p < 0.001