Endocardial cell arrangement: role of hemodynamics

This paper demonstrates the presence of areas where endocardial cells are aligned with the blood flow in three distinct regions of the embryonic chick heart: on the inferior border of the growing septum primum, on the upper wall of the primitive ventricle above the developing interventricular septum, and on the part of the atrial floor that funnels into the atrioventricular canal. While orientation in the first two areas is transitory, the number of cells aligned with the blood flow in the atrial floor increases from days 3 to 5 of incubation. It is suggested that shear stress induces endocardial cell orientation in these areas. To further explore the role of hemodynamics in endocardial cell arrangement, the left vitelline vein was severed at stages 13-14. This resulted in abnormal development of the vitelline venous system. Examination of experimental embryos at 5 days of age revealed the presence of a distinct area of endocardial cell orientation in the dorsal wall of the right atrium, near the opening of the sinus venous. Changes in the venous return to the atria may modify flow patterns, thus inducing endocardial cell orientation. This experimental procedure may be a useful model not only for exploring the effects of hemodynamics upon the endocardium, but also for investigating other aspects of heart development under altered hemodynamic conditions, without manipulating any portion of the embryonic heart.