Role of actin polymerization in bending of the early heart tube

During cardiac c‐looping, the heart transforms from a straight tube into a c‐shaped tube, presenting the first evidence of left–right asymmetry in the embryo. C‐looping consists of two primary deformation components: ventral bending and dextral rotation. This study examines the role of actin polymer...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Developmental dynamics 2005-08, Vol.233 (4), p.1272-1286
Main Authors: Latacha, Kimberly S., Rémond, Mathieu C., Ramasubramanian, Ashok, Chen, Amy Y., Elson, Elliot L., Taber, Larry A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abnormalities, Drug-Induced
actin polymerization
Actins - metabolism
Animals
Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic - pharmacology
cardiac looping
Chick Embryo
cytochalasin D
Cytochalasin D - pharmacology
Heart - anatomy & histology
Heart - embryology
Heart - physiology
Heart Defects, Congenital - chemically induced
heart development
latrunculin A
Microscopy, Confocal
Myocardium - chemistry
Myocardium - metabolism
Thiazoles - pharmacology
Thiazolidines
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Summary:During cardiac c‐looping, the heart transforms from a straight tube into a c‐shaped tube, presenting the first evidence of left–right asymmetry in the embryo. C‐looping consists of two primary deformation components: ventral bending and dextral rotation. This study examines the role of actin polymerization in bending of the heart tube. Exposure of stage 9–11 chick embryos to low concentrations of the actin polymerization inhibitors cytochalasin D (5 nM–2.0 μM) and latrunculin A (LA; 25 nM–2.0 μM) suppressed looping in a stage‐ and concentration‐dependent manner in both whole embryos and isolated hearts. Local exposure of either the dorsal or ventral sides of isolated hearts to LA also inhibited looping, but less than global exposure, indicating that both sides contribute to the bending mechanism. Taken together, these data suggest that ongoing actin polymerization is required for the bending component of cardiac c‐looping, and we speculate that polymerization‐driven myocardial cell shape changes cause this deformation. Developmental Dynamics 233:1272–1286, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
ISSN:1058-8388
1097-0177
DOI:10.1002/dvdy.20488