NOS1 and Sepsis: Because sepsis increases the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in skeletal muscle [26], and HSP 90 protein expression increases in response to ROS [37], ascorbate could scavenge ROS, prevent HSP 90 protein up-regulation, inhibit sepsis-induced increased nNOS activity and NO production, and thus prevent the septic impairment of arteriolar conduction [29].