Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2026

An Intact Pericardium Ischemic Rodent Model
07:15

An Intact Pericardium Ischemic Rodent Model

Published on: September 2, 2021

Perlecan is critical for heart stability

Philipp Sasse1, Daniela Malan, Michaela Fleischmann

  • 1Institute of Physiology I, Life & Brain Center, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany.

Cardiovascular Research
|August 13, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Perlecan is crucial for early heart development, preventing embryonic lethality by maintaining cardiac structural integrity. Loss of perlecan leads to mechanical instability in embryonic hearts and impaired function in adult hearts after injury.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Extracellular Matrix Research

Background:

  • Perlecan, a heparan sulfate proteoglycan, is vital in basement membranes and mesenchymal tissues.
  • Perlecan gene mutations in mice cause embryonic lethality, primarily due to cardiac abnormalities.
  • Understanding perlecan's role in cardiac development and function is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the mechanism behind perlecan-related embryonic lethality.
  • Determine the pathophysiological relevance of perlecan for heart function.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized perlecan-deficient murine embryonic stem cells.
  • Analyzed mechanical stability of developing hearts via dextran microinjection.
  • Examined basement membrane and cell-cell junction formation using electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and western blotting.

Main Results:

  • Perlecan deficiency did not affect sarcomere formation or cardiomyocyte electrophysiology.
  • Early embryonic hearts (before E10.5) showed mechanical instability.
  • Perlecan-null hearts had reduced collagen IV and laminin levels and lacked basement membranes.
  • Infarcted hearts from heterozygous mice exhibited impaired function compared to wild-type.

Conclusions:

  • Perlecan is critical for maintaining cardiac integrity during embryonic development.
  • Perlecan is important for adult heart function following injury.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Surgical Porcine Model of Chronic Myocardial Ischemia Treated by Exosome-laden Collagen Patch and Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft05:25

Surgical Porcine Model of Chronic Myocardial Ischemia Treated by Exosome-laden Collagen Patch and Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

Published on: September 15, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Pericarditis IV: Nursing Management01:25

Pericarditis IV: Nursing Management

Pericarditis, an inflammation of the pericardium, necessitates diligent nursing management to ensure effective patient care and recovery. The initial step in managing pericarditis is a comprehensive patient medical assessment.The patient reports chest pain aggravated by breathing, coughing, and swallowing, which worsens when lying supine. The pain often improves when sitting up and leaning forward. Additional symptoms may include fever, malaise, and, in severe cases, signs of heart failure.
Location and Orientation of the Heart01:13

Location and Orientation of the Heart

The human heart, despite its modest size and weight, is an organ of remarkable strength and endurance. Roughly the size of a fist, the heart weighs between 250 and 350 grams and is nestled within the mediastinum, the medial cavity of the thorax. It extends obliquely for about 12 to 14 cm, resting on the superior surface of the diaphragm. The heart is positioned anterior to the vertebral column and posterior to the sternum, with two-thirds of its mass lying to the left of the midsternal line.
Heart Valves01:16

Heart Valves

The human heart is a complex organ with an intricate system of valves that regulate blood flow. There are two main types of valves: atrioventricular (AV) valves and semilunar valves.
The AV valves prevent the backflow of blood from the ventricles to the atria during ventricular contraction. These valves function with the assistance of the chordae tendineae and papillary muscles. When the ventricles are relaxed, the chordae tendineae are slack, allowing blood to flow from the atria into the...
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray01:20

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray

The most common cardiovascular diagnostic test is an X-ray. It produces images of the heart, blood vessels, and adjacent structures.
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...
Imbalances in Cardiac Output01:26

Imbalances in Cardiac Output

The heart's primary function is to pump blood throughout the body, maintaining a balance between blood sent out (cardiac output) and blood returning (venous return). If this balance is disrupted, it can result in congestive heart failure (CHF), a severe condition where the heart becomes an inefficient pump, leading to inadequate blood circulation.
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send blood...
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...