Three-dimensional reconstruction of the myofiber pattern in the fetal and neonatal mouse heart

A methodology for three-dimensional reconstruction from serial sections and interactive computer graphics is described briefly. This methodology was applied to study the morphogenesis of the cardiac myofiber pattern in the fetal and neonatal mouse heart (ventricles). Few organized in-plane myofibers were found in the myocardial wall before 12 days postconception, but many fibers were observed in the very numerous trabeculae at all times up to birth. However, beginning at about 12 days, the number of fibers in the myocardial wall increases rapidly: these are seen predominantly in the transverse plane. The neonatal mouse heart, especially the left ventricle, resembles a small adult muscular artery. But the global myofiber pattern in the mouse heart at these stages appears to be more complex than might be inferred from earlier studies of the local myofiber pattern at a few sites in the ventricles of a few species of adult mammals. In particular, the pattern in and adjacent to the interventricular septum appears quite complex.