2.5. Angiotensin II-induced hypertension

In order to induce vascular remodeling [28] and hypertension, male mice at 10–12 weeks of age were subcutaneously implanted with osmotic minipumps (Alzet Model 2002; Alza Corp. Palo Alto, CA) to deliver Ang II (Kang Tai Co., Beijing, China) at a rate of 500 ng/kg/min for two weeks [29]. Starting on the first day of implantation of osmotic minipumps, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with vehicle or SO₂ donors (Na₂SO₃: 68.04 mg/kg; NaHSO₃: 18.72 mg/kg body weight, freshly dissolved in saline) daily in these two weeks [30].