Adult spiny mice (Acomys) exhibit endogenous cardiac recovery in response to myocardial infarction

Abstract

Complex tissue regeneration is extremely rare among adult mammals. An exception, however, is the superior tissue healing of multiple organs in spiny mice (Acomys). While Acomys species exhibit the remarkable ability to heal complex tissue with minimal scarring, little is known about their cardiac structure and function. In this study, we characterized cardiac structure, anatomy, and in vivo function, as well as cardiomyocyte characteristics in Acomys compared to the most commonly used cardiac mouse model, the C57BL6 mouse strain (Mus). Our results demonstrate comparable cardiac anatomy, structure and function between the two rodent species, but reveal significant differences in their cardiomyocyte characteristics. These findings establish Acomys as a new mammalian model for cardiac research.

Ischemic tolerance and cardiac repair in the African spiny mouse

“…However, whether regenerative capacity extends towards the essential internal organs, particularly the heart, is incompletely understood 8 . Here, we compared the response to ischemic injury following ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery (resulting in myocardial infarction (MI)), in Mus musculus and Acomys cahirinus, for whom coronary artery anatomy is largely similar 9 . We report, despite scar formation and an initial drop in heart function, spiny mice exhibit significant tolerance to infarction, demonstrated by superior survivability, retainment of ventricular conduction, smaller scar size, and reduced remodeling.…”