Elastogenesis Correlates With Pigment Production in Murine Aortic Valve Leaflets
Objective: Aortic valve (AV) leaflets rely on a precise extracellular matrix (ECM) microarchitecture for appropriate biomechanical performance.The ECM structure is maintained by valvular interstitial cells (VICs), which reside within the leaflets.The presence of pigment produced by a melanocytic population of VICs in mice with dark coats has been g