Adult Spiny Mice (Acomys) Exhibit Endogenous Cardiac Recovery in Response to Myocardial Infarction

The study found that adult spiny mice (Acomys) exhibited superior cardiac recovery following myocardial infarction compared to commonly used laboratory mouse strains (C57BL6 and CFW). Despite similar initial cardiac damage, Acomys showed better ischemic tolerance, cytoprotection, and cardiac functional stabilization, resulting in a higher survival rate and smaller scar size 50 days post-injury. This enhanced recovery was associated with increased endothelial cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and vessel maturation in the affected heart regions. These results highlighted the potential of Acomys as a valuable model for cardiac research due to their remarkable myocardial preservation capabilities.