Zebrafish Heart Regeneration as a Model for Cardiac Tissue Repair

Heart disease remains the leading cause of mortality throughout the world. Mammals have an extremely limited capacity to repair lost or damaged heart tissue, thus encouraging biologists to seek out models for heart regeneration. Zebrafish exhibit a robust regenerative capacity in a variety of tissues including the fin, spinal cord, retina, and heart, making it the sole regenerative vertebrate organism currently amenable to genetic manipulation. Future studies will utilize functional approaches to tease apart zebrafish heart regeneration in hopes of unlocking our own regenerative potential.