CARDIAC-SPECIFIC 11beta HYDROXYSTEROID DEHYDROGENASE TYPE 2 TRANSGENIC MICE

摘要

Five independent transgenic founder lines were created which have all developed cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. The line with the most severe phenotype was analyzed in detail. Transgenic cardiac 11beta3HSD2 mRNA expression is increased 4,000 fold over non-transgenic mice and the expressed enzyme was found to possess catalytic activity. At five months of age transgenic mice had developed severe myocardial hypertrophy in the absence of an increase in blood pressure. Interstitial fibrosis in the left ventricle of transgenic mice was revealed by picrosirius red staining. The hearts of the mice were severely dilated and cardiomyocyte size was increased.