title: Long-term expression of isomyosins and myoendocrine functions in ectopic grafts of atrial tissue.
abstract: Tissue fragments of newborn rat atria were transplanted under the dorsal skin or into the bed of the anterior tibial muscle of nude mice. After 5-11 weeks, the grafts, which had reorganized into beating atrium-like structures, were analyzed and compared to ventricular tissue transplanted the same way. As revealed by monoclonal antibodies against alpha- and beta-type myosin heavy chains, atrial grafts retained a typical pattern of myosin expression distinct from that of ventricular grafts. The majority of ectopic atrial myocytes contained specific atrial granules in which cardiodilatin-immunoreactive material has been localized. Specific granules and cardiodilatin immunoreactivity were not found in myocytes of ventricular grafts. We conclude that the long-term maintenance of isomyosin expression and of the myoendocrine function of atrial tissue is largely independent of the anatomical environment.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jockusch
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Füchtbauer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Füchtbauer
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Leger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leger
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Maldonado
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Forssmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000166:cytology* / Q000637:transplantation; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D009218:Myosins / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D009124:Muscle Proteins; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; C040651:cardiodilatin; D009218:Myosins