Compared to the sham-operated rats, 8-week TAC rats showed significant left ventricular hypertrophy as evidenced by 1.5-fold increased heart weight to body weight (HW/BW) ratio, 2.3-fold increased ANP mRNA expression, 2.4-fold increased ANP mRNA expression, and 1.9-fold increased Myh7 mRNA expression (Fig. 1B). Here, NPPA is linked to left ventricular hypertrophy.