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Updated: Sep 1, 2025
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En Face Endocardial Cushion Preparation for Planar Morphogenesis Analysis in Mouse Embryos
Published on: July 27, 2022
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En Face Endocardial Cushion Preparation for Planar Morphogenesis Analysis in Mouse Embryos
Tamara Gonzalez-Costa1, Jose Luis de la Pompa2, Joaquim Grego-Bessa3
1Intercellular Signalling in Cardiovascular Development and Disease Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC); Ciber de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares.
Journal of Visualized Experiments : Jove
|August 15, 2022
Summary
This study introduces a new method to visualize endocardial cells during heart valve development. This approach helps understand cellular behaviors crucial for forming cardiac cushions and preventing congenital heart defects.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cardiovascular Research
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Mammalian heart development is critical for understanding congenital heart disease.
- Cardiac valve formation involves endocardial cells undergoing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the atrioventricular canal (AVC) and outflow tract (OFT).
- The planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway is implicated in regulating cellular mechanisms during valve development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel experimental approach for visualizing endocardial cells as a planar field during heart valve development.
- To enable the study of planar cell polarity (PCP), planar topology, and intercellular communication in the endocardium of the OFT and AVC.
- To contribute to understanding congenital heart disease linked to endocardial cushion defects.
Main Methods:
- Development of an experimental approach to visualize the endocardium as a planar cell field in valvulogenic regions.
- Utilizing this method to observe cellular behavior and morphological changes within the endocardial plane.
- Analysis of intercellular communication and planar topology during cardiac cushion formation.
Main Results:
- The new method allows visualization of the endocardium as a planar field of cells in the AVC and OFT.
- This approach facilitates the study of cellular dynamics, including delamination, migration, and tissue reorganization.
- Provides insights into the role of PCP and intercellular communication in cardiac valve morphogenesis.
Conclusions:
- The developed experimental approach offers a new window into studying cardiac valve development at the cellular level.
- Understanding these cellular mechanisms is vital for addressing congenital heart diseases.
- Further research using this method can uncover novel cellular processes in heart development.
