The cardiac function of the mice was measured using echocardiography as described previously (23 (link)). Serial Doppler echocardiography was performed using the Vevo® 3100 ultrasound system with a 40-MHz high-frequency ultrasonic probe (Fujifilm VisualSonics, Toronto, ON, Canada). Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), and left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) were measured. Fractional shortening (FS) was calculated as (LVEDD − LVESD)/LVEDD×100%, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was calculated as (LVEDV − LVESV)/LVEDV ×100%.