PMID: 7034166Jan 1, 1981Paper

Prenatal development of the endocardium: a review

Scanning Electron Microscopy
T Pexieder

Abstract

The chronology of SEM studies of the embryonic endocardium is followed in this review by discussion of species, stages and localizations studied. In reviewing the methodology of SEM studies of the embryonic endocardium, particular weight is given to standard methods which can be applied to all species of interest. Two main aspects are more deeply analysed: the perfusion fixation and the effects of the osmolarity of the fixative vehicle. Using these standardized techniques, the embryonic endocardium of chick, mouse, dog, human and, to a lesser extent, rat hearts are described in SEM. All species investigated presented microvilli ruffles, filopodia, cytosegresomes, intercellular openings and phagocytes. Marginal folds, lamellipodia, dividing cells and incomplete endocardium could be observed in some species only. Each of these microappendages is discussed in relationship to observations of other authors on four levels - embryonic endocardium, adult endocardium, embryonic endothelium and adult endothelium. The general tendency in differentiation of the embryonic endocardium results in a progressive loss of the majority of the microappendages mentioned. Contrary to a relative absence of interspecific differences in endocardial morp...Continue Reading

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