During heart failure, according to the original article, it is known for years that the heart express genes but which occurs only in the fetal heart. If this reactivation does happen, what regulates it is not known. Investigations, according to the original article, now have discovered the enzyme that regulates enlargement of the heart cells (cardiac hypertrophy) that are viewable using binocular biological microscopes, the precursor to congestive heart failure (CHF). This study opens possibilities for testing heart failure with the use of binocular biological microscopes.

The enzyme, known as HDAC, regulates how DNA is packaged inside the cell, therefore, a switch that turns an end of the related genes to regulate growth of heart cells in the embryo. If this happens in the adult, the heart enlarges its own cells because it cannot make more cells easily. Tissue samples of the heart have been studied with the use of binocular biological microscopes.

This enzyme regulates still another enzyme (INpp5f) that controls the growth and multiplication of cells. Inpp5f is related to suppression of tumor genes in cancer. Tumor genes can be studied using high-powered microscopes such as an electron microscope.

These findings were the result of laboratory study in mice using binocular biological microscopes. They found that by depriving an adult mouse of the enzyme HDAC, the program in the fetal gene is prevented from restarting. Consequently a mouse heart failure prevented the slide to progressive heart failure.

HDAC inhibitors are now tested for cancer cases while valproic acid is being used to treat seizures. CHF medications are for treatment of high blood pressures but very few are tried for heart muscle cells.