Table 1.

Characteristics of Experimental Animals

Age (months)	1	2	6
Control (CT)
Body Weight (g)	65.7±1	99.2±2	130.2±1
Heart Rate (beats/min)	61±1.2	61±1.9	67±2.2
Heart Weight (mg)	61.8±3	91.8±3	118.4±8
HW/BW (mg dw/g)	0.9406	0.9254	0.9094
Cardiomyopathic (CM)
Body Weight (g)	58.9±2	92.7±2	126.0±2
Heart Rate (beats/min)	82±2*	81±2*	80±2*
Heart Weight (mg)	57.5±3	83.4±2	103.9±4
HW/BW (mg dw/g)	0.9762	0.9004	0.8246**

The values shown are the means ± SEM. Eight hamsters per group.

^*: P< 0.05 when compared with age-matched CT.

^**: P<0.05 vs. CM of 1-month of age. All other comparisons did not reach statistical significance. HW = heart weight, BW= body weight, dw = dry weight