Gender modulates cardiac phenotype development in genetically modified mice

Recent research using genetically modified mice has revealed significant sex differences in cardiac phenotypes. In the majority of strains, females display a lower mortality, less severe hypertrophy, better preserved function and mitigated cardiac pathology compared with male counterparts. Thus, gender is an independent determinant for the development of cardiac phenotype in murine models. While there is strong evidence for estrogen as a cardiac protector, emerging evidence indicates adverse actions of testicular hormones that might be responsible in part for the sex differences. Studies using mouse models have also revealed novel information on signalling mechanisms mediating the sex difference. (C) 2004 European Society of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.