Figure 3

Final body weight in relation to survival time. Each value represents a single animal. Compared to the time point of implantation, the transgenic mice (tg6) without postoperative intensive care (open triangles and diamonds) or permanent bleeding, lost body weight, whereas the 3 wildtype (wt) mice (filled triangles and diamonds) without postoperative intensive care maintained or even increased their body weight, although they did not survive 14 days after implantation. Thus, the progress of the individuals' body weight in the 2-week, critical postoperative period could not be taken as a reliable indicator for assessing the quality of convalescence and for anticipating survival. The mean body weight of 94 mice that received postoperative intensive care and survived for more than 3 weeks was increased from 22 g (standard deviation ± 2) at implantation, to a final weight of 25 g (standard deviation ± 2) on average. The long-term gain of body weight confirmed that the animals were healthy and in good bodily condition for exercising on the treadmill, and that they tolerated the transmitter well.