Fig. 3.

Loss of β-catenin in Tcf21 or Postn lineage attenuates cardiac hypertrophy 8 weeks post TAC. Representative images of hematoxylin and eosin (a, b, scale bar = 1mm) and immunofluorescence staining of WGA (green, c, d, scale bar = 100 μm) from Tcf21 ^MCM ;Ctnnb1 ^fl/fl (a, c) and Postn ^MCM ;Ctnnb1 ^fl/fl (b, d) are shown. Compared to Cre-negative controls, loss of β-catenin in Tcf21 (e, f) or Postn (g, h) lineages significantly decreased cardiac hypertrophy 8 weeks post TAC as determined by cardiomyocyte cross-section area (e) and (g) and heart-to-body weight ratio (f) and (h). i–l Gene expression levels of hypertrophic markers Nppa and Myh7 was determined by quantitative PCR of RNA isolated from LV free wall of Tcf21 ^MCM ;Ctnnb1 ^fl/fl (i, j) and Postn ^MCM ;Ctnnb1 ^fl/fl (k, l) at 8 weeks post operation. Data points are shown with median and interquartile ranges indicated. Statistical significance was determined by Kruskal–Wallis tests, followed by Mann–Whitney U tests for pairwise comparisons using Bonferonni adjustments to control for multiple testing. *P < 0.05 vs. Sham, ^† P < 0.05 vs. Control TAC. N = 5–12 mice per group