O-ring-induced transverse aortic constriction (OTAC) is a new simple method to develop cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure in mice

Suture-based transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in mice is one of the most frequently used experimental models for cardiac pressure overload-induced heart failure. However, the incidence of heart failure in the conventional TAC depends on the operator’s skill. To optimize and simplify this method, we proposed O-ring-induced transverse aortic constriction (OTAC) in mice. C57BL/6J mice were subjected to OTAC, in which an o-ring was applied to the transverse aorta (between the brachiocephalic artery and the left common carotid artery) and tied with a triple knot. We used different inner diameters of o-rings were 0.50 and 0.45 mm. Pressure overload by OTAC promoted left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. OTAC also increased lung weight, indicating severe pulmonary congestion. Echocardiographic findings revealed that both OTAC groups developed LV hypertrophy within one week after the procedure and gradually reduced LV fractional shortening. In addition, significant elevations in gene expression related to heart failure, LV hypertrophy, and LV fibrosis were observed in the LV of OTAC mice. We demonstrated the OTAC method, which is a simple and effective cardiac pressure overload method in mice. This method will efficiently help us understand heart failure (HF) mechanisms with reduced LV ejection fraction (HFrEF) and cardiac hypertrophy.