Protocols for Hemodynamic Assessment of Transgenic Mice In Vivo

In the past few years there has been an explosive growth in the development of animal models of cardiovascular disease based on transgenic and gene-targeted strategies (1 ). Almost exclusively, the mouse has been the animal model employed in these studies owing to the relative ease with which its genome may be manipulated, short reproductive cycle, and low cost. Further advances now provide the ability to control gene expression in a temporal manner in the postnatal mouse heart (2 ) and, as described in other chapters of this monograph, the potential for assessing the feasibility and effectiveness of treating cardiovascular disease at the molecular genetic level through the use of gene therapy. Phenotypic analysis in the mouse though, has generally lagged behind the rapid advances in molecular biology owing to the unique challenges posed by the small size of the mouse heart (<6 mm length) and rapid heart rate (550–650 beats/min).