Open AccessStem cells and the formation of the myocardium in the vertebrate embryo
Author(s) -
Eisenberg Leonard M.,
Kubalak Steven W.,
Eisenberg Carol A.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
the anatomical record part a: discoveries in molecular, cellular, and evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1552-4892
pISSN - 1552-4884
DOI - 10.1002/ar.a.10130
Subject(s) - stem cell , myocyte , biology , vertebrate , embryo , progenitor cell , developmental biology , microbiology and biotechnology , function (biology) , neuroscience , anatomy , genetics , gene
A major goal in cardiovascular biology is to repair diseased or damaged hearts with newly generated myocardial tissue. Stem cells offer a potential source of replacement myocytes for restoring cardiac function. Yet little is known about the nature of the cells that are able to generate myocardium and the conditions they require to form heart tissue. A source of information that may be pertinent to addressing these issues is the study of how the myocardium arises from progenitor cells in the early vertebrate embryo. Accordingly, this review will examine the initial events of cardiac developmental biology for insights into the identity and characteristics of the stem cells that can be used to generate myocardial tissue for therapeutic purposes. Anat Rec Part A 276A:2–12, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.