Spanish scientists recreate cat hearts in 3D to prevent blood clots in humans and animals.

Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona (Spain) and the Royal Veterinary College in London (United Kingdom) have collaborated on a pioneering project that reconstructs the hearts of cats in 3D to prevent blood clots in humans and animals.

This initiative involves reconstructing the organ and simulating its blood flow using advanced computational techniques that until now have only been applied to humans. It also focuses on reconstructing the feline left atrium , the part of the heart where blood clots that can lead to a heart attack are generated.

Therefore, by studying these reconstructions and comparing them with existing reconstructions of the human heart, scientists draw useful conclusions for preventing blood clots .

Why is cat heart tissue studied?

Cat cardiac tissue is ideal for understanding the relationship between heart morphology and blood clots because they do not suffer from arrhythmias, so this relationship can be studied without interference. Consequently, reconstructions show that felines with a larger left atrium and a larger and longer left atrial appendage are at greater risk of developing a blood clot, although the risk of developing blood clots also increases if blood flows slowly or if the left atrial appendage has a more curved shape.

Furthermore, considering that cats do not suffer from arrhythmias , blood clots in cats are due solely to morphological characteristics of the heart and the flow of blood that circulates through it.

On the other hand, the results suggest that feline hearts exhibit "similar" behavior patterns to those of humans , as previous studies on the left atrium of humans had reached similar conclusions. However, there are still numerous unknowns about the relationship between the shape of the human heart and the risk of suffering a blood clot.

This innovation will reduce the need for animal testing.

Looking to the future, these computational tools used to reconstruct hearts will "reduce the need for direct animal experiments," says UPF researcher Andy L. Olivares in the study published in the journal Scientific Reports .

In addition, the same will soon be done with the hearts of dogs, pigs, and sheep , with the aim of drawing "useful" conclusions for preventing blood clots in both humans and animals.

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