NPPB and cardiac hypertrophy: The mRNA expression of the hypertrophy markers atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and alpha-skeletal actin (αSKA) was increased, along with reduced expression of sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca22-ATPase (SERCA2a) (Fig. 1j–m), consistent with cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction.