The images show that cardiac cells in a mouse embryo begin to spontaneously organize themselves into a heart-like shape in the early stages of development.
Scientists say the technique could offer new insights into congenital heart defects, which affect almost one in 100 babies.
"This is the first time we have been able to observe heart cells so closely, for so long, during mammalian development," said the study's lead author, Dr. Kenzo Ivanovitch of the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health at University College London.
"First we had to grow the embryos reliably in a dish for long periods, from several hours to several days, and what we found was completely unexpected."
The images of developing embryos were captured using a technique called advanced light-sheet microscopy, the Telegraph reports.
This allowed scientists to track the embryos as they went through a developmental milestone known as gastrulation, when the embryo begins to form distinct cell lineages and begins to create the basic axes of the body.
Soon after, the heart muscle cells organize into a large tube that will continue to divide into sections that will eventually become the walls and chambers. In babies with heart defects, a hole may form during this process.
Using fluorescent markers, the team labeled heart muscle cells called cardiomyocytes, causing them to glow in distinct colors.
Snapshots were taken every two minutes for 40 hours, showing cells moving, dividing and forming a primitive organ. This allowed the team to see when and where the first cells that make up the heart appeared in the embryo.
The researchers found that early during gastrulation (about six days into mouse embryo development), cells that contribute only to the heart appeared rapidly and behaved in highly organized ways.
Instead of moving randomly, they began to follow distinct paths, either contributing to the ventricles (the pumping chambers of the heart) or to the atria (where blood enters the heart from the body and lungs).
"Our findings indicate that cardiac fate determination and directed cell movement may be regulated much earlier in the embryo than current models suggest," Ivanovitch said.
"This fundamentally changes our understanding of cardiac development by showing that what appears to be chaotic cell migration is actually guided by hidden patterns that ensure proper heart formation," he added.
The team said the knowledge could advance the understanding and treatment of congenital heart defects, and accelerate progress in growing heart tissue in the laboratory for use in regenerative medicine. /Telegraph/
Promo
Advertise herePrigozhin - Putin war
More
America warns Hezbollah not to get involved in Israel-Iran war

Seventh day of Iran-Israel attacks, minute by minute

Netanyahu: My son was forced to cancel his wedding twice because of the attacks

Trump close to decision to bomb Iran

Iranian ballistic missile hits a skyscraper in central Tel Aviv

German Chancellor: Israel has shown courage by doing dirty work for all of us

House for sale with an area of 360 m² in the Pejton neighborhood in Pristina

104.5m² comfort - Luxurious apartment with an attractive view for your offices

Invest in your future - buy a flat in 'Arbëri' now! ID-140

Apartment for sale in Fushë Kosovë in a perfect location - 80.5m², price 62,000 Euro! ID-254

Ideal for office - apartment for rent ID-253 in the center of Pristina

Complete and shine on your prom night with the agreement between Telegrafi and Melodia PX!

For only €29.95 with Telegrafi Deals and Melodia PX, these sneakers can be yours!

Deal: Melodia Px and Telegrafi Deals have agreed to offer women's Nike sneakers for only €69.95, until March 09th!

Will we see you at the Balkan eCommerce Summit 2025?

Exclusively on Telegrafi Deals – Nike REAX from €101 to €79.95!
Most read

"Silent Flights": What planes is America moving to the Middle East?

Everything happened until the sixth day of Iran-Israel attacks

"Good luck": This is Trump's message to Iran's supreme leader after he refused to surrender

Vinicius shamefully simulated in the Club World Cup, he received a yellow card

How a referee sees a football match: See the revolution, the goal and the red card from his perspective

Liverpool go "crazy" for Isak - ready to pay 177 million euros to Newcastle