CASP3 and hydrops fetalis: Our study also revealed that these beneficial effects of hexarelin were due to its capacity to reduce oxidative stress as reflected by the increase in the activity of SOD and the decrease in MDA levels, the inhibition of apoptosis indicated by the decrease in the expression of proapoptotic protein (Bax) and apoptotic effector caspase-3 with a corresponding increase in antiapoptotic protein (Bcl-2) expression, and the attenuation of cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophic remodeling-related biomarkers in the myocardium of CAL-induced HF rats.