Endothelial NOS immunostaining scores (mean ± SD) were 1.50 ± 0.58 in the control group; 1.5 ± 0.58 in the sham group; 4.75 ± 0.50 in the ASP group; 1.25 ± 0.50 in the HT group and 3.75 ± 0.96 in the HT + ASP group. This evidence concerns the gene NOS3 and hematocrit.