Fig. 6

Depolarization-induced contractions increased arterial stiffness at low and high stretch pressure when autophagy was deficient in VSMCs. Concentration–response curves of stiffness increase elicited by K⁺ in aortic segments of Atg7^+/+ SM22α-Cre⁺ (+/+) and Atg7^F/F SM22α-Cre⁺ (F/F) mice under physiological pressures (N, 80–120 mmHg, a) and elevated pressures (H, 100–140 mmHg; b) in the presence of L-NAME. E_p in unstimulated conditions (KR, c) and after depolarization with 35 mM K⁺ (d) at normal (N) and high (H) pressure. Two-way ANOVA with pressure and genotype effect indicated and with Sidak’s multiple comparisons test. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 (n = 7)