Ac. Gittenberger-de Groot et al., Epicardial outgrowth inhibition leads to compensatory mesothelial outflow tract collar and abnormal cardiac septation and coronary formation, CIRCUL RES, 87(11), 2000, pp. 969-971
In the present study, we investigated the modulatory role of the epicardium
in myocardial and coronary development. Epicardial cell tracing experiment
s have shown that epicardium-derived cells are the source of interstitial m
yocardial fibroblasts, cushion mesenchyme, and smooth muscle cells. Epicard
ial outgrowth inhibition studies show abnormalities of the compact myocardi
al layer, myocardialization of cushion tissue, looping, septation, and coro
nary vascular formation. Lack of epicardial spreading is partly compensated
by mesothelial outgrowth over the conotruncal region, Heterospecific epica
rdial transplant is able to partially rescue the myocardial development, as
well as septation and coronary formation.