ETB-deficient rats

We are using a previously well characterized Wistar–Imamichi rat strain, kindly provided by Professor M. Yanagisawa (University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan). These animals carry a natural deletion in the gene encoding for the ETB-receptor and die prematurely of intestinal obstruction. This phenotype is rescued by directed ETB transgene-expression, leading to normal development of enteric nervous system; hence, this rat-model provides a valuable tool in the study of ETB-receptors in the cardiovascular system.