Alterations of arterial physiology in osteopontin-null mice.

Objective: In this study, we characterized the effects of an osteopontin (OPN)-null mutation in normal arterial function and remodeling in a murine model.

Methods And Results: OPN-null mutant mice were compared with wild-type mice before and after carotid artery ligation. Before ligation, OPN-null mice had increased heart rate, lower blood pressure, and increased circulating lymphocytes compared with wild-type mice.