Figure 4.

Activation of MEK1/2, ERK1/2 or MNK1/2 did not affect NOS II/peroxynitrite signaling in RVLM during experimental brain stem death. Illustrative gels or summary of fold changes against aCSF controls in ratio of NOS II or nitrotyrosine (NT; marker for peroxynitrite) relative to β-actin protein detected in ventrolateral medulla of rats that received ERK activation inhibitor peptide II, U0126 or CGP57380 into bilateral RVLM, 30 min before induction of brain stem death. Note that NT is presented as % relative to β-actin because it is below detection limit (ND) in aCSF controls. Values are mean ± SEM of triplicate analyses on samples pooled from 5-7 animals per experimental group. *P < 0.05 versus aCSF group and ⁺P < 0.05 versus Mev group in the Scheffé multiple-range test.