Spiny mouse fibroblasts prefer glycolysis and resist oxidative stress across lifespan
Cells from regenerative spiny mice and rabbits limit reactive oxygen species production through altered mitochondrial structure and low baseline respiration.
The Journal of biological chemistry · Aryee E et al. · Paper published 24 Sep 2026
Researchers examined primary ear pinna fibroblasts from spiny mice, rabbits, laboratory mice, and rats to evaluate metabolic features linked to tissue regeneration. Fibroblasts from spiny mice and rabbits showed a baseline preference for glycolysis that supported lower production of reactive oxygen species. Mitochondria in spiny mouse fibroblasts were depolarized, displayed low respiration rates, and held a distinct large, spherical shape. This spherical mitochondrial shape persisted across lifespan in fibroblasts collected from fetal, young, and old spiny mice, and cells from all three age groups resisted oxidative stress. Additionally, isolated fibroblasts from both spiny mice and rabbits shared lower oxygen consumption efficiency compared to cells from standard laboratory mice and rats.
Why it matters
Identifying how regenerative species rewire metabolism to limit oxidative damage across lifespan could reveal cellular mechanisms that support lifelong tissue resilience.
Caveats
The study was conducted in cultured primary fibroblasts from ear pinna tissue and did not test metabolic dynamics in intact living animals or other cell types.
Written from the paper’s abstract, and every claim checked against it before publishing. Read the paper for the full methods and data.
The paper
Spiny mouse fibroblasts exhibit a baseline preference for glycolysis and are resilient to oxidative stress across lifespan
Aryee E, Aloysius A, Saxena S et al.
The Journal of biological chemistry · 24 Sep 2026 · Peer-reviewed
- Relevance
- Relevant
- News value
- Notable
- Evidence
- Cells
- Status
- Peer-reviewed
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