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Figure 4 Relative cross-sectional area changes induced by (A) hyperemia (flow-mediated dilation [FMD] representing endothelium-dependent relaxation) and by (B) glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) (endothelium-independent relaxation). (C) Ratio of FMD- to GTN-induced dilation. Similar results were obtained for the absolute cross-sectional area changes (data in text), a parameter independent of vessel size. Two-way analysis of covariance, adjusting for gender as a fixed effect and body surface area as a covariate. Solid bars = sedentary control subjects; open bars = rowers. *p < 0.01; **p < 0.001.