Retinoic Acid and VEGF Delay Smooth Muscle Relative to Endothelial Differentiation to Coordinate Inner and Outer Coronary Vessel Wall Morphogenesis

Abstract

Experiments support a model in which early high levels of RA and VEGF prevent CoSMC differentiation from epicardially derived cells before RA and VEGF levels decline as an extensive endothelial network is established. We suggest this physiological delay guarantees the formation of a complex, hierarchical, tree of coronary vessels.