Blood Analysis. Blood samples were collected via
jugular venipuncture into commercial blood collection
tubes (Vacutainer, 10 mL; Becton Dickinson, Franklin
Lakes, NJ) containing 158 United States Pharmacopeia
units of freeze-dried sodium heparin, immediately
placed on ice, and centrifuged at 2,500 × g for 30 min at
4°C for plasma collection. Plasma was frozen at −80°C
on the same day as collection.