STAT3 and hydrops fetalis: Hence, increased heart apoptosis, inflammation, ROS production and STAT3 pathway activation regulated by the identified genes and their interaction networks and pathways in MYH6-Cre-BDNF–/– hearts are proposed as possible molecular mechanisms mediating the cardiomyocyte death, cardiac dysfunction and degeneration and HF caused by the ablation of cardiomyocyte-derived BDNF.