Developmental biology of the heart: is there a role for the physiologist?
Support for physiological research has generally declined, as interest in cellular and molecular investigation has assumed ascendancy. However, there are many important issues relating to cardiovascular development that require a systems approach to study of the circulation. Examples are mechanisms of circulatory response to hypoxia during fetal life; changes in myocardial growth in response to loading before and after birth, and resultant cardiac function; and prenatal and postnatal development of the great vessels with altered circulatory patterns in congenital heart lesions. These issues are of great concern in considerations for potential fetal cardiovascular surgery.
Rudolph
A M
AM
Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0544, USA.
D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology; D005311:Fetal Hypoxia; D005333:Fetus / Q000601:surgery; D006321:Heart / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D010827:Physiology