Gender modulates cardiac phenotype development in genetically modified mice.
Recent research using genetically modified mice has revealed significant sex differences in cardiac phenotypes. In the majority of strains, females display a lower mortality, less severe hypertrophy, better preserved function and mitigated cardiac pathology compared with male counterparts. Thus, gender is an independent determinant for the development of cardiac phenotype in murine models. While there is strong evidence for estrogen as a cardiac protector, emerging evidence indicates adverse actions of testicular hormones that might be responsible in part for the sex differences. Studies using mouse models have also revealed novel information on signalling mechanisms mediating the sex difference.
Experimental Cardiology Laboratory, Wynn Domain, Baker Heart Research Institute PO Box 6492, Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia. xiaojun.du@baker.edu.au
Xiao-Jun
XJ
Du
D000818:Animals; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D023421:Models, Animal; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones