Loss of PNA staining in mouse aortico-pulmonary septum is associated with mesenchymal cell apoptosis

Massive apoptosis of mesenchymal cells in the septum of the aortico-pulmonary trunk was found in mouse fetuses at stage 14.5 dpc. It was associated with the appearance of cavities in the mesenchymal tissue, presumably due to cell loss, a strong reduction in the extent of lectin PNA staining, and the induction of metallothioneins in specialized mesenchymal cells. Cell loss was spatially restricted to an inner area of the septum and was due to a distinct apoptotic pattern of cells, different from that in the heart wall. These events led to a rapid reduction of the aortico-pulmonary septum as occurs during the late stages of heart morphogenesis. It coincided with the migration of other cell types that invaded the cell-depleted septum, and contributed to the histiogenesis of the mature heart.