Analyzing the developing heart

During the early stage of heart development the heart forms a tube and blood is pushed along the tube using peristaltic motion. Understanding what shape changes are normal, and which are not, can help scientists predict heart disease at a very early stage. In particular, studying the temporal change is important - how the shapes change may be as important as the actual shapes it takes on at any given time point.

Under normal development, the tube twists and valves and walls form to create the familiar four-chambered heart. If blood flow is altered, say by tying a band around the tube, the heart will not develop correctly, and will, in fact, exhibit problems similar to congenital heart defects - holes in the walls and incomplete valve formation. Essentially, cells lining the heart respond to the stresses and strains induced by the peristaltic motion. As the cells change - for example, by creating more collagen - the movement of the tube is altered, which in turn changes the stresses and strains.

My role in this project is to quantify the shape changes in the developing heart. Understanding what is normal variation and what changes are induced by banding can help elucidate the role in shape on heart development.

Funded in part by NSF grant DBI 1053171.

Collaborator: Sandra Rugonyi, Oregon Health and Sciences University

Papers