A murine model of hypertensive heart disease in older women

We propose a new mouse (C57Bl6/J) model combining several features of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction encountered in older women, including hypertension from Angiotensin II infusion (AngII), menopause, and advanced age. To mimic menopause, we delayed ovariectomy (Ovx) at 12 months of age. We also studied the effects of AngII infusion for 28 days in younger animals and the impact of losing gonadal steroids earlier in life. We observed that AngII effects on heart morphology were different in younger and adult mice (3- and 12-month-old; 20 and 19% increase in heart weight. P