2.2. Experimental Animal Models of Cardiac Hypertrophy

8-12 weeks old C57BL/6 mice were subjected to TAC surgery for 28 days to induce cardiac hypertrophy. The control mice were undergoing sham surgery. ISO (Sigma-Aldrich) was dissolved in 150 mM NaCl and 1 mM acetic acid, and they were delivered (8.7 mg/kg/d for 28 days) by implanting of Osmotic Minipumps (model 2004; ALZET) into the abdomens of adult mice. Control mice underwent the same procedure, except that the respective pumps were filled only with vehicle (150 mM NaCl and 1 mM acetic acid). The development of hypertrophy was judged noninvasively by the use of echocardiography. The animal study was approved by the Ethics Review Board of Animal Study at the First Affiliated Hospital of Jiamusi University.