We specifically chose an Ang II delivery rate of 555 ng·kg−1·min−1, because 555 ng·kg−1·min−1 in male Sprague-Dawley rats was shown to induce a 6-fold increase of plasma Ang II level in comparison to controls (50), which is in the same range as seen in heart failure patients [7-fold increase; (51)]. This evidence concerns the gene AGT and heart failure.