Isoproterenol Challenge

Isoproterenol is sympathomimetic that agonizes the beta-receptors and when infused chronically causes pathological cardiac hypertrophy. Heart mass is measured relative to body weight and tibia length after 7 days infusion of isoproterenol via osmotic pump.

Osmotic minipumps containing isoproterenol are implanted subcutaneously inside of the mice. The isoproterenol is infused at a constant rate over a 7-day period at which time the hearts of the mice are harvested and weighed. The heart weight is then normalized to both the lean body mass as well as the overall body mass.

Displayed below is a sample graph of how heart weight measures are presented. In comprehensive phenotypic data packages graphs are interactive. Raw or calculated data and statistics can be seen by clicking on points in the graph.

Figure illustrates heart weights normalized to overall body mass (left) and lean body mass (right) of mutant mice following isoproterenol administration. Heart weight values of wild type littermates (green circle), homozygous (red diamond), and recent historical wild type (purple line) mice are plotted against long-term historical values (± 2 standard deviations) for wild type animals (green shading). Recent wild type values are calculated from data collected within 60 days of current measures and long-term historical values are derived from data collected on more than 10,000 wild type mice.