Mice discovered accidentally at the Wistar Institute in
Pennsylvania have the seemingly miraculous ability to regenerate
like a salamander, and even regrow vital organs.
Researchers systematically amputated digits and damaged various
organs of the mice, including the heart, liver and brain, most of
which grew back.The results stunned scientists because if such
regeneration is possible in this mammal, it might also be possible
in humans. The researchers also made a remarkable second discovery:
When cells from the regenerative mice were injected into normal
mice, the normal mice adopted the ability to regenerate. And when
the special mice bred with normal mice, their offspring inherited
souped-up regeneration capabilities. The mice, known as the MRL
strain, were specially bred to develop lupus.
But researchers don't know why exactly the animals' injuries heal
so well. "If we identified the molecules that allow mice that don't
regenerate to regenerate ... and I think we could be close to doing
that, then I think the next step is to consider what these
molecules would do in individuals," said Ellen Heber-Katz, a
professor of molecular and cellular oncogenesis at Wistar, located
on the University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia.
http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,68962,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_1
