The indices of pathological cardiac hypertrophy (Lowes et al., 1997; Weinberg et al., 1999), such as the atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP), sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA-2α), the skeletal muscle α-actin, and the ratio of α/β-myosin heavy chain (α/β-MHC), were not altered in the EX group compared to those in the CON group (Figures 1G–J). This evidence concerns the gene NPPA and cardiac hypertrophy.