Heart valve cardiomyocytes of mouse embryos express the serotonin transporter SERT.
Multiple evidence demonstrate a role for serotonin and its transporter SERT in heart valve development and disease. By utilizing a Cre/loxP system driven by SERT gene expression, we recently demonstrated a regionally restricted distribution of SERT-expressing cells in developing mouse heart. In order to characterize the cell types exhibiting SERT expression within the mouse heart valves at early developmental stages, in this study we performed immunohistochemistry for Islet1 (Isl1) and connexin-43 (Cx-43) on heart sections from SERT(Cre/+);ROSA26R embryos previously stained with X-gal. We observed the co-localization of LacZ staining with Isl1 labelling in the outflow tract, the right ventricle and the conal region of E11.5 mouse heart. Cx-43 labelled cells co-localized with LacZ stained cells in the forming atrioventricular valves. These results demonstrate the cardiomyocyte phenotype of SERT-expressing cells in heart valves of the developing mouse heart, thus suggesting an active role of SERT in early heart valve development.
Department of Biological Structures, Functions and Technologies, University of Naples Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy; Department of Biochemistry and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: pavone@dbbm.unina.it.
Luigi Michele
LM
Pavone
Department of Biological Structures, Functions and Technologies, University of Naples Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy; Department of Biochemistry and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Anna
A
Spina
Department of Biological Structures, Functions and Technologies, University of Naples Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy; Department of Biochemistry and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Roberta Lo
RL
Muto
Department of Biological Structures, Functions and Technologies, University of Naples Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy; Department of Biochemistry and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Dionea
D
Santoro
Department of Experimental Medicine "G. Salvatore", University of Magna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy.
Vincenzo
V
Mastellone
Department of Biological Structures, Functions and Technologies, University of Naples Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy.
Luigi
L
Avallone
D000818:Animals; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D055879:Gene Knock-In Techniques; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D018031:Connexin 43; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; C493231:Slc6a4 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors; C063843:insulin gene enhancer binding protein Isl-1; D001616:beta-Galactosidase