AT2 receptor deficiency is associated with reduced cardiac contractility in the neonatal organism.

<p>A) Echocardiographic assessment of cardiac function in 7-day-old KO and WT mice. A significantly reduced fractional shortening (FS) after application of dobutamine (5 µg/g body weight) was observed in KO as compared to WT mice. # <i>P</i><0.01 vs. KO/WT (n = 8/10). Data are shown as mean ± SEM. B) and C) Isoprenaline- and calcium-induced inotropic response of isolated ventricular stripes derived from 7-day-old KO and WT mice (n = 8/6). A non-significant trend towards reduced calcium- and isoprenaline-mediated stimulation of ventricular contractility in KO mice was observed, respectively.