Regeneration in the spiny mouse, Acomys, a new mammalian model

We describe the tissues and organs that show exceptional regenerative ability following injury in the spiny mouse, Acomys. The skin and ear regenerate: hair and its associated stem cell niches, sebaceous glands, dermis, adipocytes, cartilage, smooth muscle, and skeletal muscle. Internal tissues such as the heart, kidney, muscle, and spinal cord respond to damage by showing significantly reduced inflammation and improved regeneration responses. The reason for this improved ability may lie in the immune system which shows a blunted inflammatory response to injury compared to that of the typical mammal, but we also show that there are distinct biomechanical properties of Acomys tissues. Examining the regenerative behavior of closely related mammals may provide insights into the evolution of this remarkable property.