Transcriptome analysis of postnatal mouse cardiac tissue growth and development

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Biology
• Developmental Biology
• Molecular Genetics

Background:

• Postnatal mammalian cardiac function relies on cardiomyocyte proliferation and hypertrophy.
• The precise molecular mechanisms governing these processes remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate cardiomyocyte changes during mouse heart development.
• To identify key genes regulating myocardial growth and development through transcriptomic analysis.

Main Methods:

• Phenotypic measurements and transcriptomic sequencing of myocardial tissues from 7-day-old (P7) and 3-month-old (3m) female C57BL/6 mice.
• Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analyses of differentially expressed genes (DEGs).
• qRT-PCR validation of selected candidate genes.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in heart weight and cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area were observed from P7 to 3m.
• Transcriptome sequencing identified 3,858 DEGs, enriched in cell cycle, cardiac morphogenesis, and proliferation pathways.
• Ten candidate genes (e.g., Hey2, Foxm1, Igf1) involved in myocardial growth were identified and validated.

Conclusions:

• Mouse heart development involves significant cardiomyocyte growth and distinct molecular changes.
• Key genes and pathways regulating cardiac development were identified, offering insights into molecular mechanisms.
• This research provides a foundation for understanding cardiac growth and potential therapeutic targets.