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(Circulation Research. 2007;100:1399.)
© 2007 American Heart Association, Inc.

Editorials

New Insights Into the Developmental Biomechanics of the Atrioventricular Valves

Bradley B. Keller

From the Professor of Pediatrics and Director, Pediatric Innovative Biomedical Technology Development, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.

Correspondence to Bradley B. Keller, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Heart Center, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, 3705 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. E-mail Bradley.Keller@chp.edu

See related article, pages 1503–1511

Key Words: cardiac morphogenesis • biomechanics • atrioventricular valves

An extract of the first 250 words of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract.

	Introduction

 
In this issue, Butcher et al,¹ provide elegant data on the mechanical performance and material properties of stage 17, 21, and 25 chick embryonic atrioventricular (AV) cushions during normal development and following the selective digestion of AV cushion constituents. These data are then interpreted using a strain-energy based pseudoelasticity theory to determine maturational changes in AV cushion material coefficients and effective modulus. The experimental approach developed by Butcher and colleagues and their observation that developmental changes in AV cushion function are because of changes in cushion constituents and material properties represent an important advance in our understanding of the role of tissue composition on valve morphogenesis. Further, this study represents the first direct correlation of in vivo AV cushion kinematics and blood velocity with biomechanical properties during AV valve morphogenesis that includes experimental validation via the selective enzymatic digestion of either glycosaminoglycans or collagens to alter cushion properties.

	Insights into the Role of AV Cushion Maturation on Embryonic Cardiac Function

 
As the first functioning organ, experimental data from numerous animal model systems show that the embryonic heart generates forward blood flow while transforming from a contracting linear tube into the multi-chambered heart.^2–6 From the onset of the heart beat, the AV cushions coapt to prevent retrograde flow during ventricular systole,^7,8 and have a delayed depolarization velocity relative to the surrounding myocardium to facilitate forward flow.⁹ Recently, confocal laser slit-scanning microscopy has revealed dynamic AV cushion deformation patterns during morphogenesis consistent with the transition from a peristaltic (suction) to a pulsatile ventricular pump.¹⁰ The data from Butcher et al confirm these findings and . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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