"Cardiomyocyte proliferation" refers to the process of heart muscle cells, known as cardiomyocytes, multiplying or reproducing to increase their numbers.
Full definition
«This idea fits nicely with the findings from a number of groups — that forced expression of cell cycle regulators can
induce cardiomyocyte proliferation in mammals,» says Jopling.
Keating notes that «the implication, which isn't proven, but is quite exciting, is that by enhancing
human cardiomyocyte proliferation after heart injury, one may be able to enhance cardiac regeneration and reduce cardiac scarring.»
In contrast, in response to injury, the zebrafish heart quickly seals the wound with a fibrin clot, followed
by cardiomyocyte proliferation and neovascularization of the new myocardium.
Data in zebrafish demonstrate that PDRM16 has as a dominant positive effect
on cardiomyocyte proliferation showing that either activated or repressed levels of activity of PRDM16 impair proliferation.
Regeneration of cryoinjury induced necrotic heart lesions in zebrafish is associated with epicardial activation and
cardiomyocyte proliferation.
But Godwin found that
cardiomyocyte proliferation is not the only driver of effective heart regeneration.
After injury,
cardiomyocyte proliferation is induced until all lost cardiomyocytes are replaced.