De Novo Regeneration of Rete Ridges During Cetacean Skin Wound Healing

    March 2026
    Tzu‐Yu Liu, Hao‐Ven Wang, Wei‐Cheng Yang, Chao-Chun Yang, Chen-Yi Su, Yun-Ting Chiou, Tsyr-Huei Chiou, Shyh-Jou Shieh, Ming-Jer Tang, C. Chuong, Michael W. Hughes
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    TLDR Fraser's Dolphin can heal skin wounds with minimal scarring, unlike humans.
    The study reveals that Fraser's Dolphin, a tight-skinned mammal, can regenerate complex rete ridge architecture with minimal scarring after large full-thickness skin wounds, even in high-tension environments. This finding is significant as it contrasts with the typical fibrotic repair seen in humans and other tight-skinned mammals. The dolphin's ability to regenerate under such conditions offers a unique opportunity to explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms that enable regenerative wound healing, potentially informing future regenerative medicine strategies.
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