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Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Culturing Mouse Cardiac Valves in the Miniature Tissue Culture System
Published on: October 19, 2015
Heart valve structure and function in development and disease
Robert B Hinton1, Katherine E Yutzey
1Division of Cardiology, The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Ohio 45229, USA.
Abstract:
The mature heart valves are made up of highly organized extracellular matrix (ECM) and valve interstitial cells (VICs) surrounded by an endothelial cell layer. The ECM of the valves is stratified into elastin-, proteoglycan-, and collagen-rich layers that confer distinct biomechanical properties to the leaflets and supporting structures. Signaling pathways have critical functions in primary valvulogenesis as well as the maintenance of valve structure and function over time. Animal models provide powerful tools to study valve development and disease processes. Valve disease is a significant public health problem, and increasing evidence implicates aberrant developmental mechanisms underlying pathogenesis. Further studies are necessary to determine regulatory pathway interactions underlying valve pathogenesis in order to generate new avenues for novel therapeutics.
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