Statistical assessment of the cardiomyocyte hypertrophy high throughput assay. The HDAC inhibitor TSA was used as a positive control to block NRVM hypertrophy and ANF expression in the presence of PE or PMA. Data shown are from two experimental plates: one with each hypertrophic agonist. Individual data points representing mean values per well (total value divided by cell count) are shown. (A and B: Plate one) Z-prime values for cell size, and ANF expression in the presence of PE were 0.63 and 0.72, respectively. (C and D: Plate two) Z-prime values for cell size and ANF expression in the presence of PMA were 0.72 and 0.76, respectively. These values indicate that the differences between the negative controls (PE + DMSO or PMA + DMSO) and the positive controls (PE + TSA or PMA + TSA) are sufficient, and consistent enough, to enable efficient high throughput screening for inhibitors of hypertrophy.