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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
08:57
En Face Endocardial Cushion Preparation for Planar Morphogenesis Analysis in Mouse Embryos
Published on: July 27, 2022
Expression of active Notch1 in avian coronary development
Ke Yang1, Yong-Qiu Doughman, Ganga Karunamuni
1Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.
Summary
The Notch1 intracellular domain (N1ICD) is crucial for cardiovascular development, appearing in epicardial cells and aiding coronary vessel formation. Its differential activation in hypoxic regions promotes epicardial cell transition and progenitor differentiation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Signaling
Background:
- Notch1 signaling is vital for intercellular communication in cardiovascular development.
- The active form of Notch1, N1ICD, plays a key role in cellular differentiation and tissue formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spatiotemporal expression and role of Notch1 intracellular domain (N1ICD) during embryonic heart development.
- To explore the involvement of the hypoxia/HIF1-VEGF-Notch pathway in epicardial development and coronary vasculogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of N1ICD expression in embryonic chick hearts at various developmental stages (HH25-HH35).
- Localization of N1ICD in different cell types including mesothelial, mesenchymal, and endothelial cells within the developing epicardium and coronary vasculature.
Main Results:
- N1ICD was detected in mesothelial and mesenchymal cells of the pro-epicardium during epicardial formation.
- N1ICD-expressing endothelial cells were found in the atrioventricular junction and compact myocardium.
- N1ICD-positive smooth muscle cells surrounded developing coronary vessels, with expression absent in cells around mature vessels.
Conclusions:
- Differential activation of the hypoxia/HIF1-VEGF-Notch pathway is implicated in epicardial development.
- This pathway likely promotes epicardial epithelial/mesenchymal transition and coronary progenitor cell differentiation.
- N1ICD plays a significant role in coronary vasculogenesis, particularly in hypoxic sulcus regions.
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The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
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The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
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