Characterization of the ERβ ^– /–mouse heart

Although the heart responds to estrogen, it is not clear whether estrogen acts directly on heart muscle or indirectly by means of the vascular, immune, or nervous system. No role for estrogen receptor (ER) β in the heart has been established, but ERβ –/– mice are hypertensive, and as they age, their hearts become enlarged. Histological and ultrastructural analysis of the heart revealed a disarray of myocytes, a disruption of intercalated discs,...