Activation of AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) causes vasorelaxation in isolated mesenteric arteries of hypertensive and normotensive rats

Previous studies have shown that AMPK activation causes relaxation in isolated vessels from healthy animals but this has not been investigated in dysfunctional resistance arteries of hypertensive animals. Here we investigate the effects of AMPK activator 5‐aminoimidazole‐4‐carboxamide‐1‐β‐D‐ribofuranoside (AICAR) on resistance arteries from normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and Spontaneously Hypertensive rats (SHR). Mesenteric arteries were …