X.H.T.W. is a W.M. Keck Foundation Distinguished Young Scholar in Medical Research, and is also supported by NIH/NHLBI grants R01-HL089598 and R01- R01HL091947, and Muscular Dystrophy Association grant #69238. R.J.v.O. is the recipient of the 2008-2010 American Physiological Society Postdoctoral Fellowship in Physiological Genomics. This work is also supported in part by the Fondation Leducq Alliance for CaMKII Signaling in Heart.

Part 1: Preparation of Operating Field
<ol>
	<li>The operating field is disinfected with 75% isopropyl alcohol.</li>
	<li>Make sure the heating pad is on and at the right temperature. A recommended system is a Gaymar circulating water pump connected to a therapy pad that is maintained at 37 &deg;C &plusmn; 1 &deg;C. It is important to maintain normal body temperature during surgery as to avoid a rapid decrease in heart rate. </li>
	<li>Surgical tools are sterilized in a hot bead sterilizer before surgery. For this proc...

<ol>
	<li>Rockman, H. A., Ross, R. S., Harris, A. N., Knowlton, K. U., Steinhelper, M. E., Field, L. J., Ross, J., Chein, K. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Segregation+of+atrial-specific+and+inducible+expression+of+an+atrial+natriuretic+factor+transgene+in+an+in+vivo+murine+model+of+cardiac+hypertrophy.">Segregation of atrial-specific and inducible expression of an atrial natriuretic factor transgene in an in vivo murine model of cardiac hypertrophy.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 88, 8277-8281 (1991).</li><li>Heineke, J., Molkentin, J. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regulation+of+cardiac+hypertrophy+by+intracellular+signaling+pathways.">Regulation of cardiac hypertrophy by intracellular signaling pathways.</a> Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell. Biol. 7, 589-600 (2006).</li><li>Hartley, C. J., Reddy, A. K., Madala, S., Michael, L. H., Entman, M. L., Taffett, G. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Doppler+estimation+of+reduced+coronary+flow+reserve+in+mice+with+pressure+overload+cardiac+hypertrophy.">Doppler estimation of reduced coronary flow reserve in mice with pressure overload cardiac hypertrophy.</a> Ultrasound Med. Biol. 34, 892-901 (2008).</li><li>Reddy, A. K., Taffett, G. E., Li, Y. -. H., Lim, S. -. W., Pham, T. T., Pocius, J. S., Entman, M. L., Michael, L. H., Hartley, C. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Doppler+signal+processing+for+use+in+mice:+applications.">Doppler signal processing for use in mice: applications.</a> IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. 52, 1771-1783 (2005).</li><li>Li, Y. -. H., Reddy, A. K., Ochoa, L. N., Pham, T. T., Hartley, C. J., Micheal, L. H., Entman, M. L., Taffett, G. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effect+of+age+on+peripheral+vascular+response+to+transverse+aortic+banding+in+mice.">Effect of age on peripheral vascular response to transverse aortic banding in mice.</a> J. Gerontol. 58A, 895-899 (2003).</li><li>Bourajjaj, M., Armand, A. S., Martins, d. a. C. o. s. t. a., Weijts, P. A., Nagel, B. V. a. n. d. e. r., Heeneman, R., Wehrens, S., Windt, X. H. D. e., J, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=NFATc2+is+a+necessary+mediator+of+calcineurin-dependent+cardiac+hypertrophy+and+heart+failure.">NFATc2 is a necessary mediator of calcineurin-dependent cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 28, 22295-22303 (2008).</li><li>Oort, R. J. v. a. n., Respress, J. L., Li, N., Reynolds, C., Almeida, A. C. D. e., Skapura, D. G., Windt, L. J. D. e., Wehrens, X. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Accelerated+development+of+pressure+overload+induced+cardiac+hypertrophy+and+dysfunction+in+an+RyR2-R176Q+knockin+mouse+model.">Accelerated development of pressure overload induced cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction in an RyR2-R176Q knockin mouse model.</a> Hypertension. 55, (2010).</li><li>Tarnavski, O., McMullen, J. R., Schinke, M., Nie, Q., Kong, S., Izumo, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mouse+cardiac+surgery:+comprehensive+techniques+for+the+generation+of+mouse+models+of+human+diseases+and+their+application+for+genomic+studies.">Mouse cardiac surgery: comprehensive techniques for the generation of mouse models of human diseases and their application for genomic studies.</a> Physiol Genomics. 16, 349-360 (2004).</li></ol>

TAC, which mimics human aortic stenosis, is a common method to induce cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure in mice. Alternative sites for aortic constriction include the ascending and abdominal aorta. Ascending aortic constriction provides an extreme and more rapid overload on the left ventricle (LV). In contrast, abdominal aortic constriction leaves intact a larger portion of the circulation as a means of possible compensation.8 Therefore, TAC is often the preferred model as it provides for adequate LV overl...

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		<div>
		<table border="1">
		<thead>
		<tr>
		<th>Material Name</th>
		<th>Type</th>
		<th>Company</th>
		<th>Catalogue Number</th>
		<th>Comment</th>
		</tr>
		</thead>
		<tbody>
		
<tr>
<td>Gaymar T/pump</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Harvard Apparatus</td>
<td>Model TP-500</td>
<td>Circulating water pump</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Temp. therapy pads</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Harvard Apparatus</td>
<td>60-3414</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Hot bead sterilizer</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>18000-45</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Blunt scissors</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Roboz</td>
<td>RS-5980</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Angled spring scissors</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Roboz</td>
<td>RS-5668</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Chest retractor</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>17002-02</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Course curved forceps</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Roboz</td>
<td>RS-5138</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Dumont fine 45&deg; angled forceps</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>11253-25</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Needle holder</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>12565-14</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Electric shaver</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>General Electric</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>For shaving mouse fur</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PE 90 tubing</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>BD</td>
<td>427420</td>
<td>For intubation</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MiniVent (ventilator)</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Harvard Apparatus</td>
<td>Type 845</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Betadine</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fisher</td>
<td>19-027132</td>
<td>May be purchased at medical supply store</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sterile gloves</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Mckesson</td>
<td>20-1565</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Stereo microscope</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Unico</td>
<td>ZM186</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>6-0 silk suture</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>18020-60</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>27 &frac12; gauge needle</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>BD</td>
<td>305109</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>6-0 prolene suture</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Mckesson</td>
<td>3286</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Buprenorphine</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Institutional Animal Facility</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>		</tbody>
		</table>
		</div>

transverse aortic constriction in mice

Transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in the mouse is a commonly used experimental model for pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.1 TAC initially leads to compensated hypertrophy of the heart, which often is associated with a temporary enhancement of cardiac contractility. Over time, however, the response to the chronic hemodynamic overload becomes maladaptive, resulting in cardiac dilatation and heart failure.2 The murine TAC model was first validated by Rockman et al.1, and has since been extensively used as a valuable tool to mimic human cardiovascular diseases and elucidate fundamental signaling processes involved in the cardiac hypertrophic response and heart failure development. When compared to other experimental models of heart failure, such as complete occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery, TAC provides a more reproducible model of cardiac hypertrophy and a more gradual time course in the development of heart failure. Here, we describe a step-by-step procedure to perform surgical TAC in mice. To determine the level of pressure overload produced by the aortic ligation, a high frequency Doppler probe is used to measure the ratio between blood flow velocities in the right and left carotid arteries.3, 4 With surgical survival rates of 80-90%, transverse aortic banding is an effective technique of inducing left ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure in mice.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Transverse Aortic Constriction in Mice at JoVE.com

Transverse Aortic Constriction in Mice

Transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in the mouse is a commonly used experimental model to study mechanisms underlying cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure development. Here, we describe procedures to constrict the aorta to create a reproducible degree of cardiac hypertrophy in mice.

Transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in the mouse is a commonly used experimental model for pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and heart ...

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66.1K Views.  Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). Transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in the mouse is a commonly used experimental model to study mechanisms underlying cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure development. Here, we describe procedures to constrict the aorta to create a reproducible degree of cardiac hypertrophy in mice.