Murine models for the study of congestive heart failure: Implications for understanding molecular mechanisms and for drug discovery.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a complex illness of diverse aetiology. Despite the current multiple therapies, the prognosis for CHF patients remains poor, and new therapeutic targets need to be identified. With the advent of the genetic era, the mouse has become an increasingly valuable animal species in experimental CHF research. A large number of murine models of cardiac hypertrophy and CHF have been created by genetic engineering. Meanwhile, traditional CHF models created by coronary artery ligation, cardiac pressure, or volume overload have been adapted to mice. The present review categorizes and highlights the value of these murine models of cardiac hypertrophy and CHF. These models, combined with sophisticated physiological measurements of cardiac haemodynamics, are expected to yield more and valuable information regarding the molecular mechanisms of CHF and aid in the discovery of novel therapeutic targets.