Mouse atrio-ventricular valve ultrastructure morphometrical correlations

Morphometric data on mouse atrio-ventricular valve ultrastructure are reported. The statistical analysis of the volumetric density percentage for cellular and extracellular valve components and of endothelial plasmalemmal vesicle density for the different endocardial domains (atrial, valvular and ventricular) showed: the bicuspid compared to the tricuspid valve has a more important lymphatic drainage, less vascularization, higher endothelial plasmalemmal vesicle density and more macrophages, striated muscle cells and collagen along with fewer interstitial cells, nervous terminals and elastin in the leaflet; the valvular endothelium as compared to other endocardial domains has a higher density of plasmalemmal vesicles, considering the results for both endothelial fronts (luminal and abluminal).