Table 1 Mouse models of SRF ablation with embryonic lethality

–

–

SRF null

• No change till E6.5

E8.5

[23, 42]

• Small embryo

• Delayed development

• Inability to form Primitive Streak

• No mesodermal cells

• pr. of Pykontic TUNEL positive cells

• Impaired Gastrulation

• Fscn1↓, Crk1↓

E 7.5–8.0

Fusion and formation of a single beating heart tube

Nkx 2.5 Cre

• Lack of Beating cells

–

[24]

• Impaired sarcomerogenesis

• Hampered miRNA activity

• Cardiac α-actin ↓

• GATA 6 ↑, BMP4 ↑

• KCNMB1 ↓

βMHC Cre

• Sarcomerogenesis ↓

E10.5–13.5

[18]

• Cell Survival ↓

• Apoptosis ↑

• Blood accumulation

• Enlarged ventricular lumen

• Impaired cell–cell interaction

αMHC Cre

• Chamber dilation

E11.5

[25]

• Cardiac insufficiency

• Poorly developed interventricular groove

• Sarcomere organization ↓

• Apoptosis ↑

• Cardiac, skeletal, SMC α-actin ↓

• heartbeat stops around E11.5

E 8.5–9.0

Heart tube undergoes looping followed by bulging of the heart regions

SM22α Cre

• Normal till E8.5

E11.5

[19]

• Restricted growth

• Abnormal cardiac trabeculation

• Reduced vascular SMC recruitment to the dorsal aorta

Instrumentation of regular heart beat

• Disorganised cardiac sarcomere

• Loss of intermediate filament bundles in vascular SMC

• Compromised Z disc structure