Ds. Raso et al., EXTRACELLULAR-MATRIX COMPONENTS IN THE HEART OF THE WHITE BASS, MORONE CHRYSOPS (RAFINESQUE), Canadian journal of zoology, 72(3), 1994, pp. 449-454
The distribution of laminin, collagen type IV, collagen bundles, prote
oglycans, elastin, and periodic acid - Schiff's moieties (glycoprotein
s) within the heart of the adult white bass, Morone chrysops (Rafinesq
ue), was investigated by means of immunohistochemical and histological
techniques. Laminin and collagen type IV were heavily expressed withi
n the epimysium and the basal lamina of the lining epicardial epitheli
um and valvular endothelium, moderately expressed within the myocardiu
m, and slightly expressed within the subendocardium. This co-localized
distribution of laminin and collagen type IV corresponds to the bioch
emically unidentified basal and external lamina observed in the hearts
of other fish by previous ultrastructural investigations and is simil
ar to the distribution observed in the hearts of birds and mammals. Al
so demonstrated was an interesting division of connective tissue compo
nents along the longitudinal axis of the atrioventricular valve, which
is most likely intimately involved with the effective functioning and
durability of the valve.