Wnt11 and Wnt7a are up‐regulated in association with differentiation of cardiac conduction cells in vitro and in vivo

The heart beat is coordinated by a precisely timed sequence of action potentials propagated through cells of the conduction system. Previously, we have shown that conduction cells in the chick embryo are derived from multipotent, cardiomyogenic progenitors present in the looped, tubular heart. Moreover, analyses of heterogeneity within myocyte clones and cell birth dating have indicated that elaboration of the conduction system occurs by ongoing, localized recruitment from within this multipotent pool. In this study, we have focused on a potential role for Wnt signaling in development of the cardiac conduction system. Treatment of embryonic myocytes from chick with endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) has been shown to promote expression of markers of Purkinje fiber cells. By using this in vitro model, we find that Wnt11 are Wnt7a are up‐regulated in association with ET‐1 treatment. Moreover, in situ hybridization reveals expression, although not temporal coincidence of, Wnt11 and Wnt7a in specialized tissues in the developing heart in vivo. Specifically, whereas Wnt11 shows transient and prominent expression in central elements of the developing conduction system (e.g., the His bundle), relative increases in Wnt7a expression emerge at sites consistent with the location of peripheral conduction cells (e.g., subendocardial Purkinje fibers). The patterns of Wnt11 and Wnt7a expression observed in vitro and in the embryonic chick heart appear to be consistent with roles for these two Wnts in differentiation of cardiac conduction tissues. Development Dynamics 227:536–543, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.