Mouse model of cardiac hypertrophy

Male C57BL6 mice (20–25 g) were purchased from Vitalriver Laboratory Animal Company (Beijing, China). All animals were housed under pathogen-free conditions and kept on standard mouse chow with free access to tap water. This study conformed to the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals published by the US National Institutes of Health. Furthermore, the present work plan was also approved by the research ethics committee of Chongqing Medical University. Transverse aortic constriction (TAC) was carried out to promote pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy in mice. Briefly, age matched mice were anesthetized with ketamine (100 mg/kg) and xylazine (10 mg/kg), placed on a ventilator (Harvard Rodent Ventilator, Harvard Apparatus, Holliston, MA) and core temperature was maintained at 37°C with a heating pad. Stenosis of the transverse aorta was measured using anatomic M-mode echocardiography from mice with satisfactory echocardiographic images of the aortic arch. Sham-operated mice underwent the same operation, without suture tied around the aorta.