What is it about?
Why regenerative ability is unevenly distributed remains largely unanswered. This project establishes a multi-species, evolutionary framework to study complex tissue regeneration in mammals. Testing 11 species of rodents, we used the robust 4mm ear punch assay to show that regenerative ability of ear pinna injuries was restricted to spiny mice (Acomys spp.) and the previously uncharacterized brush furred-mouse (Lophuromys zena). As Acomys and Lophuromys both belong to the subfamily of Deomyid rodents, this discovery indicates a phylogenetic signal for complex tissue regeneration emerging in mammals within the Deomyids.
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Photo by David Clode on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Complex tissue regeneration is a phenomenon rarely observed among mammals. Exceptions include the distal most digit tip, rabbit ear punches, and deer antler velvet. Beyond these highly restricted examples, spiny mice (Acomys spp.) exhibit broader regenerative powers such that they regrow skin and musculoskeletal tissue, and functionally repair damaged spinal cords. Until now, their impressive regenerative ability was thought unique among rodents. Sampling across a nested group of eleven murid and nonmurid rodents, we identified musculoskeletal regeneration in another deomyine lineage—Lophuromys. These results provide a phylogenetic signal for the emergence of complex tissue regeneration in an enigmatic rodent subfamily and suggest that a unique set of genetic and cellular features evolved in this group to support regeneration.
Perspectives
Discovering unique biology in unassuming species is incredibly exciting. Lophuromys is an otherwise poorly studied animal, whose regenerative ability might have gone uncharacterized. Discoveries like this should encourage people to look around at their biodiversity, be curious and inquisitive, and seek to protect it - not just for research, but for all to enjoy.
Brennan Riddell
University of Kentucky
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Complex tissue regeneration in
Lophuromys
reveals a phylogenetic signal for enhanced regenerative ability in deomyine rodents, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, December 2024, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2420726122.
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