In humans, Vcl mutations cause dilated cardiomyopathy type 1W, which, like the Hira CKO phenotype, is associated with impaired systolic function and hypertrophy (Maeda et al., 1997; Olson et al., 2002; Vasile et al., 2006). This evidence concerns the gene VCL and dilated cardiomyopathy 1W.