NPPB and hypertensive disorder: The aims of the present study were to test this hypothesis, assessing in MUN rats at different age points: 1) the development of alterations in cardiac structure and function, through echocardiography and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurements and 2) the role of hypertension and cardiac oxidative stress, through assessment of hemodynamic parameters and heart enzymatic systems responsible for ROS production and degradation.