Uterine cells are recruited to the infarcted heart and improve cardiac outcomes in female rats

► Hysterectomy decreases cardiac recovery in female rats after MI. ► The uterus contains regenerative cells that home to the infarcted myocardium. ► These mobilized uterine cells persisted in the injured myocardial tissue. ► Transplanted uterine cells stimulated angiogenesis and prevented infarct scar thinning. ► Transplanted uterine cells prevented cardiac dysfunction after MI.