NOS3 and acute kidney injury: Additionally, endothelin 1 (Edn1) and its receptor type A (Ednra) transcripts were evaluated, because both are induced by IRI and aldosterone and may contribute to the sustained vasoconstriction after AKI (25); the expression of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS or Nos3) as a central molecule in endothelial-induced vasodilation was also assessed.