Development of the connective tissue network in the neonatal hamster heart

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Abstract
The formation of the connective tissue network, composed principally of collagen, in the left ventricle of the neonatal hamster heart developed primarily during the first 20 days postpartum. The weave network of the endomysium, which was absent at birth, was visible by 4 days and was similar to that of the adult by 15 days postpartum. Myocyte‐myocyte and myocyte‐capillary struts formed gradually as the heart underwent physiological hypertrophy. These data were similar to the development of the connective tissue network in the rat except that the myocyte‐myocyte struts were more numerous in the hamster. Presumably this is because the hamster has a higher heart rate, which would require more mechanical coupling of the myocytes. Formation of the struts appears to take place at precise areas on the sarcolemma through the interaction of collagenous and noncollagenous components of the extracellular matrix.