Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Generation and Expansion of Human Cardiomyocytes from Patient Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
05:38

Generation and Expansion of Human Cardiomyocytes from Patient Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

Published on: February 12, 2021

The role of growth in heart development

Kent L Thornburg1, Samantha Louey, George D Giraud

  • 1Heart Research Center, Department of Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine), Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239-3098, USA. thornbur@ohsu.edu

Nestle Nutrition Workshop Series. Paediatric Programme
|January 17, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Perinatal environment quality critically impacts fetal development. Compromised placental nutrient supply alters heart growth, potentially causing lifelong cardiovascular issues.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Cardiovascular physiology
  • Perinatal medicine

Background:

  • The perinatal environment is crucial for fetal development, but mechanisms are unclear.
  • Fetal growth depends on maternal nutrient and oxygen supply via the placenta.
  • Hormonal, circulatory, and hemodynamic factors influence fetal organ development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how perinatal insults affect fetal heart development.
  • To explore the mechanisms linking placental function to cardiac outcomes.
  • To understand the long-term consequences of altered heart development.

Main Methods:

  • Studies in sheep models were used to examine heart development.
  • Specific insults, such as placental embolization, were introduced.
  • Changes in cardiomyocyte proliferation, maturation, and circulating factors were assessed.

Main Results:

  • Placental insults alter fetal heart growth patterns.
  • Placental embolization inhibited cardiomyocyte proliferation and maturation, possibly via insulin-like growth factor-1.
  • Insults affected maturational timeline, myocyte number, vascularity, and endothelial responsiveness.

Conclusions:

  • Perinatal insults significantly modify fetal heart development.
  • These modifications can lead to persistent cardiovascular changes and adult cardiovascular disease.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is key to preventing long-term cardiac dysfunction.

More Related Videos

En Face Endocardial Cushion Preparation for Planar Morphogenesis Analysis in Mouse Embryos08:57

En Face Endocardial Cushion Preparation for Planar Morphogenesis Analysis in Mouse Embryos

Published on: July 27, 2022

An Efficient Transgenesis Approach for Gene Delivery in the Mouse Embryonic Heart05:06

An Efficient Transgenesis Approach for Gene Delivery in the Mouse Embryonic Heart

Published on: May 24, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Development of the Heart01:27

Development of the Heart

The development of the human heart, a crucial organ, commences from the mesoderm on the 18th or 19th day after fertilization. This process initiates in the cardiogenic area, a group of mesodermal cells at the embryo's head end, which evolves into elongated strands known as cardiogenic cords. These cords undergo a transformation to form hollow-centered endocardial tubes.
As the embryo undergoes lateral folding, these paired tubes approach each other, merging into a single primitive heart tube by...
Role of Hematopoietic Growth Factors01:28

Role of Hematopoietic Growth Factors

Hematopoietic growth factors are molecules that regulate the differentiation rate of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Erythropoietin (EPO), primarily produced by the kidneys, plays a crucial role in erythrocyte production. When oxygen levels in the blood are low, EPO is released into the bloodstream, reaching the bone marrow, where it stimulates HSCs to differentiate and mature into erythrocytes, which are vital for oxygen transport.
Thrombopoietin (TPO), mainly released by the liver,...
Chambers of the Heart01:16

Chambers of the Heart

The human heart is a complex organ made up of four chambers: the right and left atria and the right and left ventricles. These internal chambers are separated by partitions known as the interatrial and interventricular septa. The exterior of the heart features a groove known as the coronary sulcus that demarcates the atria from the ventricles, while the anterior and posterior interventricular sulci distinguish between the two ventricles.
Deoxygenated blood from the body is received in the right...
Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology01:29

Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology

Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
Development of Blood Vessels01:07

Development of Blood Vessels

The development of the vascular system in a fetus is a complex and intricate process that begins as early as 15 to 16 days post-conception. This process starts outside the embryo, specifically in the mesoderm of the yolk sac, chorion, and connecting stalk. Approximately two days later, the formation of blood vessels occurs within the embryo itself.
The initial formation of this system is facilitated by the small amount of yolk present in the ovum and yolk sac. Blood vessels originate from...
Anatomy of the Heart01:20

Anatomy of the Heart

The heart is a hollow, muscular organ approximately the size of a fist, consisting of four chambers. It is enclosed in the pericardium, a fibrous sac with two layers: the visceral and parietal pericardium, separated by a fluid-filled space containing serous fluid to reduce friction.
The heart has three layers: the innermost endocardium, the muscular myocardium, and the outer epicardium, all working together for optimal cardiac function.
Chambers of the Heart
The heart is made up of four...