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Analysis of Cardiac Chamber Development During Mouse Embryogenesis Using Whole Mount Epifluorescence
Published on: April 17, 2019
Catecholamine-synthesizing cells in the embryonic mouse heart
Steven N Ebert1, Qi Rong, Steve Boe
1Biomolecular Science Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA. ebert@mail.ucf.edu
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|January 6, 2009
Summary
Adrenergic cells in the embryonic heart produce catecholamines and act as cardiomyocyte progenitors. These cells, identified using a novel mouse model, are crucial for heart development and pacemaking functions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- The embryonic heart produces catecholamines, but the specific cells responsible remain unidentified.
- Understanding the origin of these cells is crucial for comprehending cardiac development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize catecholamine-synthesizing cells in the embryonic heart.
- To determine the developmental origins and lineage of these adrenergic cells.
Main Methods:
- Development of a novel mouse genetic model by knocking-in Cre-recombinase to the phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase locus.
- Crossbreeding with ROSA26 reporter mice to activate beta-galactosidase in adrenergic cells and their progeny.
- Analysis of adrenergic cell distribution and lineage tracing throughout embryonic development.
Main Results:
- Adrenergic cells are present in the embryonic mouse heart from embryonic day 8.5 onwards.
- These cells share common ancestry with myocardial lineages, indicating a progenitor role.
- A significant number of atrial and ventricular myocytes, as well as cells in the sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes, are derived from adrenergic progenitors.
Conclusions:
- Catecholamine-synthesizing cells serve as cardiomyocyte progenitors in the embryonic heart.
- Adrenergic cells contribute substantially to the formation of cardiac muscle and pacemaking tissues.
- This study reveals a novel role for adrenergic cells in heart development.
