Researchers at the University of Sydney found signs of new cell formation in damaged heart muscle. The discovery may help in developing new treatments for heart failure.
The researchers studied samples of living tissue obtained during coronary artery bypass operations. Previously, scientists usually examined tissue from deceased people, so they could not observe active cellular processes in a living heart.
In the damaged areas, the specialists identified signs of mitosis — cell division — as well as proteins associated with heart muscle regeneration.
However, natural recovery is still not enough to offset the losses after a severe heart attack. The researchers now plan to find out how to strengthen this mechanism.
