I recently tried to induce myocarditis in BALB/c mice using the following protocol:
Day 0: Subcutaneously injected 200 ug of MyHC614-229 peptide (Ac-RSLKLMATLFSTYASADR-OH) emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant (1 mg/ml m. tuberculosis H37RA).
Day 7: Subcutaneously injected 200 ug of MyHC614-229 peptide emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant (1 mg/ml m. tuberculosis H37RA).
Day 21: Euthanize and perform histological analysis
While I did not observe the induction of myocarditis, there were signs of inflammation (splenomegaly). One technical difficulty is that I was unable to completely dissolve the myosin peptide in PBS. Many papers indicate that the peptide is dissolved in PBS. Some protocols also use an additional injection of pertussis toxin on day 0.
Hi! I just completed a protocol to induce autoimmune myocarditis in Balb/c mice and I was told the Pertussis toxin is absolutely required to induce a strong immune reaction in Balb/c. In A/J mice it is not necessary. So my tip for you is to use the toxin as well (500ng per mouse IP).