AGT and cardiac hypertrophy: It is well documented that angiotensin II (Ang II), the main effector peptide of the renin-angiotensin system, produces hypertension, oxidative stress, vascular hypertrophy, and endothelial dysfunction (Bean et al., 1979; Brown et al., 1981; Didion et al., 2002, 2005; Didion and Faraci, 2003; Cassis et al., 2004; Crowley et al., 2005; Schrader et al., 2007).