CnB1fl/flNkx2.5-Cre newborns die within 1 day of birth. A, Western blotting for CnB and pan-CnA in hearts of newborn CnB1fl/flNkx2.5-Cre, CnB1fl/+Nkx2.5-Cre, and CnB1fl/+ littermates. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was run as a loading control. Representative Western blot of three independent experiments is shown. B, survival rates of CnB1fl/flNkx2.5-Cre, CnB1fl/fl, CnB1fl/+Nkx2.5-Cre, and CnB1fl/+ mice. Eight litters were genotyped at day 0 and monitored every day for a week (p < 0.001). C, representative photograph of CnB1fl/flNkx2.5-Cre and CnB1fl/+Nkx2.5-Cre newborn hearts. D, hematoxylin and eosin staining of longitudinal newborn heart sections from CnB1fl/flNkx2.5-Cre and CnB1fl/+Nkx2.5-Cre neonates. Arrows indicate a septo-ventricular defect, thickened tricuspid valve leaflets, and a right ventricle showing an absence of trabeculation (from left to right).