Table 1.

Genes analysed by real-time PCR

Gene	Function	TaqMan gene expression code
GATA-4*	Cardiac myogenic transcription factor [29]	Mm00484689_m1
Nkx2-5*	Cardiac myogenic transcription factor [28]	Mm00657783_m1
Cx43*	Cardiac gap junctional protein [30,31]	Mm00439105_m1
CTnT*	Cardiac sarcomeric protein	Mm00441922_m1
HCN4*	K+ channel involved in cardiac pace making [32]	Mm01176086_m1
GAPDH†	Carbohydrate metabolism enzyme	Mm99999915_g1

^*Target genes. †Housekeeping gene.