A new formation of distinct coronary vascular population in the neonatal heart has been discovered by Chinese scientists that they say may provide new strategies for the treatment of myocardial infarction.
The breakthrough, published on the Science magazine website today, points out that a substantial portion of postnatal coronary vessels form in the neonatal mouse heart instead of expanding from preexisting embryonic vasculature, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
According to Professor Zhou Bin with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, lineage conversion of neonatal endocardial cells during trabecular compaction generates a distinct compartment of the coronary circulation located within the inner half of the ventricular wall.
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This lineage conversion provides an efficient means of rapidly augmenting the coronary vasculature, Bin said.
The finding is expected to provide clues for understanding and stimulating cardiovascular regeneration following injury and disease, he said.
Myocardial infarction caused by coronary artery disease is a major cause of deaths.
