Revisiting preadolescent cardiomyocyte proliferation in mice

Understanding cardiomyocyte cell cycle regulation after birth is key to optimizing regenerative strategies for the heart post injury, yet poses multiple technical challenges, as evidenced by recent studies that have arrived at divergent conclusions. In a recent publication in Cell, Alkass et al undertook multiple approaches to examine cardiomyocyte cell cycle regulation in the first 3 weeks after birth. Here, we summarize results of Alkass et al and 3 other groups in examining preadolescent cardiomyocyte cell cycle regulation, highlighting the distinct approaches and incumbent caveats.