Distribution of beta-1 integrin in the developing rat heart

• Published in: The journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 167 - 175
• Main Authors: Carver, W, Price, RL, Raso, DS, Terracio, L, Borg, TK
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA Histochemical Soc 01.02.1994; SAGE Publications; Histochemical Society
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Northern; DNA Probes; Embryonic and Fetal Development; Extracellular Matrix - metabolism; Extracellular Matrix - ultrastructure; Female; Fetal Heart - metabolism; Fetal Heart - ultrastructure; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heart; Heart - growth & development; Immunoenzyme Techniques; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Integrins - genetics; Integrins - metabolism; Male; Microscopy, Immunoelectron; Myocardium - metabolism; Myocardium - ultrastructure; Pregnancy; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Vertebrates: cardiovascular system; Heart; Embryonic development; Integrin; Newborn animal; Fetus; Glycoproteins; Circulatory system; Gene expression; Localization; Postnatal development
• ISSN: 0022-1554; 1551-5044
• DOI: 10.1177/42.2.8288862

Cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions play critical roles in various developmental processes including differentiation, proliferation, and migration. Members of the integrin family of cell surface components are important mediators of these cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) contacts or interactions. The ECM provides signals to individual cells essential for development and differentiation and plays essential roles in establishing and maintaining the complex structure of the vertebrate heart. Integrins provide a fundamental link for transduction of developmental signals to cells. Integrin expression by cardiac myocytes is altered during neonatal heart development and disease; however, little is known regarding the spatial and temporal patterns of integrin expression during embryonic and fetal heart development. Essential to understanding the role of integrins in the organization of the heart, the present studies have localized beta-1 integrin protein and mRNA in fetal and neonatal rat hearts. Beta-1 integrin is predominantly found in regions of remodeling (trabeculae) in the early heart (10-13 days of gestation). Later in development (15 days of gestation onward), beta-1 integrin is abundant in regions containing an elaborate ECM, such as the valves. These studies further support the hypothesis that the expressions of integrins and ECM are coordinately regulated in the developing heart.