BNP mRNA expression, another positive control for cardiac hypertrophy, also increased significantly in the aortic-banded vs sham-operated groups, with statistically higher levels at D3 (7.3±2.9-fold, P<0.001), at D5 (3.6±1.1-fold, P<0.05), at D7 (3.2±0.6-fold, P<0.05) and at D14 (3.7±1-fold, P<0.01) (Fig 1B). This evidence concerns the gene NPPB and cardiac hypertrophy.