Comparison of effects of cardiomyocyte BRAF knockout on cardiac function in male and female hearts
Male and female BRAFfl/fl/Cre+/− mice were treated with CO or tamoxifen in CO (Tx) 4 days before minipumps were implanted to deliver PBS (PBS) or 40 mg/kg/d phenylephrine in PBS (PE) for 7 d. (A,B) Representative images are shown for short axis (left two panels) and long axis (right two panels) views in diastole or systole in male (A) or female mice (B). (C–J) B-mode images were analysed with VevoStrain speckle-tracking software. (C,D) Heart rate (HR) and stroke volume (SV). (E,F) End diastolic volume (EDV) and end diastolic left ventricle mass (EDLVM). (G,H) Ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS). (I,J) Global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global circumferential strain (GCS). (C,E,G,I) Data for male mice; (D,F,H,J) Data for female mice. All parameters except GCS were measured from long axis views; GCS was taken from short axis views. Data are individual values with means ± SEM. Statistical analysis used paired two-way ANOVA with Holm-Sidak’s post-test. Statistically significant values (P<0.05) are in bold type.