BACKGROUNDThe connexin43 knockout (Cx43 KO) mouse dies at birth with an enlarged conotruncal region, which leads to the obstruction of the right outflow tract (OFT). Since myocardialization of the proximal OFT septum is one of the key events during heart development, we investigated the process in the Cx43 KO embryo hearts. Rho associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase 1 (ROCK1), is a recently found key molecule to regulate the myocardialization of OFT, but its spatiotemporal expression pattern during myocardialization remains unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the differentially expressed pattern of ROCK1 between Cx43 KO and wild type embryo hearts, and its relationship with the delayed myocardialization in Cx43 KO embryo hearts.

METHODSUsing immunohistochemistry, the processes of myocardiolization were investigated both in Cx43 KO and wild type embryo hearts. The differentially expressed pattern of ROCK1 between Cx43 KO and wildtype embryo hearts was evaluated both at the mRNA and protein level by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe expression of α-sarcomeric actin (α-SCA) in the proximal OFT septum of Cx43 KO embryos was delayed. Meanwhile, it was shown that the downregulation of ROCK1 coincided with delayed myocardialization. The expression of ROCK1 protein was mainly limited to the proximal outflow tract septum from embryo day (E) E11.5 to E15.5. Its expression pattern was similar with that of α-SCA. Real-time RT-PCR found that the expression level of Rock-1 mRNA began at a low level on E11.5 and reached peak at E13.5 and E14.5.

CONCLUSIONSROCK1 may have an important role in the process of myocardialization of the proximal OFT septum. Downregulation of ROCK1 is likely to contribute to the aberrant myocardialization in Cx43 KO embryo hearts.