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Immunocytochemical studies of cardiac myocytes and other non-neuronal cells of the fetal human heart in culture

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Summary

Non-neuronal cell types present in cultures dissociated from the atria and ventricles of human fetal hearts, from 9 to 21 weeks’ gestation, were studied using phase-contrast optics and immunocytochemistry. All atrial myocytes and many, if not all, ventricular myocytes observed in culture contained atrial natriuretic peptide-like immunoreactivity. Generally, the atrial natriuretic peptide-like immunoreaction in atrial myocytes was more intense and widespread than in ventricular myocytes. Atrial and ventricular fibroblasts expressed extracellular fibronectin-like immunoreactivity. A population of cells with the appearance and growth properties of endothelial cells was observed in both atrial and ventricular cultures, and was classified as endothelioid since their precise origin was not known. Only a subpopulation of these endothelioid cells contained factor VIII-related antigen immunoreactivity, and some cells that did not display the other growth characteristics of endothelial cells were also factor VIII-related antigen immunoreactive in culture. Glial cells were S-100-like immunoreactive; they were usually more numerous in atrial than ventricular preparations. There was no close association between glial cells and neurones in the atrial cultures.

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Author notes

  1. R. Penketh

    Present address: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St George’s Hospital Medical School, Cranmer Terrace, SW17 0RE, London, United Kingdom

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology and Centre for Neuroscience, University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT, London, United Kingdom

    C. J. S. Hassall & G. Burnstock

  2. Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital for Women, Goldhawk Road, W6 0XG, London, United Kingdom

    R. Penketh & C. Rodeck

Authors
  1. C. J. S. Hassall
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  2. R. Penketh
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  3. C. Rodeck
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  4. G. Burnstock
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Hassall, C.J.S., Penketh, R., Rodeck, C. et al. Immunocytochemical studies of cardiac myocytes and other non-neuronal cells of the fetal human heart in culture. Anat Embryol 182, 339–346 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02433494

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