Figure 5. Morphologic analysis of Smyd2 cKO hearts.

(A) The hearts from 6 month old Smyd2^fl/fl or Smyd2 cKO animals were isolated and washed in cold 30 mM KCl/PBS. Subsequently photographs were taken using a standard digital camera. Scale bar indicates 1 cm. (B) Heart to body weight ratios were obtained from adult male Smyd2^fl/fl or Smyd2 cKO animals. Data is shown as means ± SEM, n = 4. (C) Tissue sections from neonatal (P3) or adult (>8 weeks) male Smyd2^fl/fl or Smyd2 cKO hearts were examined by histological analysis with hematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E). No signs of necrosis or cardiomyocyte disarray have been observed. Scale bar = 65 µm, n = 4. (D) Tissue sections from neonatal (P3) or adult (>8 weeks) male Smyd2^fl/fl or Smyd2 cKO hearts were examined by Masson's trichrome staining. Signs of fibrosis were not observed in cardiac ventricles. Scale bar = 65 µm, n = 4. (E) Functional cardiac parameters were obtained using MRI analysis of either male Smyd2^fl/fl or Smyd2 cKO mice at the age of 6 month. No statistical differences were detected for end-systolic, end-diastolic or stroke volume. Data is shown as means ± SD, n = 4.