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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

A Novel Ex vivo Culture Method for the Embryonic Mouse Heart
Published on: May 24, 2013
Developmental biology of the heart: is there a role for the physiologist?
1Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0544, USA.
Abstract:
Support for physiological research has generally declined, as interest in cellular and molecular investigation has assumed ascendancy. However, there are many important issues relating to cardiovascular development that require a systems approach to study of the circulation. Examples are mechanisms of circulatory response to hypoxia during fetal life; changes in myocardial growth in response to loading before and after birth, and resultant cardiac function; and prenatal and postnatal development of the great vessels with altered circulatory patterns in congenital heart lesions. These issues are of great concern in considerations for potential fetal cardiovascular surgery.
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