FIGURE 1.

Development of the collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model of Rheumatoid Arthritis. DBA mice were subcutaneously (s.c.) injected with 100 μg of type II collagen (CII) and 300 μg of M tuberculosis in 0.1 ml of the emulsion into the base of the tail. On day 5, the animals were boosted with a subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of 100 μg of CII in Freund's incomplete adjuvant. Control mice were injected with 0.1 ml saline on both occasions. The CIA mice were sacrificed when they had developed overt arthritis in at least 2 paws (day 10–15) and the hearts were collected for: cardiomyocytes isolation ([Ca²⁺]_i transients), myofibrils (force‐Ca²⁺ relationship) and biochemistry (western blot).