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melanin as a natural germ cell marker for intraspecific transplantation experiments in ambystoma mexicanum (urodela, amphibia).in urodele amphibians, the lack of a reliable germ cell marker restricts the experimental study of the germ lineage. in the present work, we conducted genetic and histological analyses in order to demonstrate that melanin from oocytes constitutes a germ cell marker available for intraspecific experiments in ambystoma mexicanum. then, using this marker, we implanted germ cells from undifferentiated gonads (stage 48) into the blastocoel of host embryos and investigated their fate and determined st ...199028305537
effects of retinoids on regenerating limbs: comparison of retinoic acid and arotinoid at different amputation levels.retinoic acid and the synthetic retinoid, arotinoid, were compared for their efficacy in inducing proximodistal (pd) pattern duplication in regenerating axolotl limbs, after amputation through either the distal zeugopodium (lower arm or leg) or distal stylopodium (upper arm or leg). at each level of amputation, the morphology of the duplications produced was the same for both retinoids, and the mean level of proximalization was dose-dependent. blastema formation was delayed by both retinoids and ...198628305407
expression of dna ligase genes by ram spermatid nuclei and rna in amphibian eggs.during animal development and gametogenesis two dna ligases are found and successively expressed. in this study the two dna ligases present in the axolotl egg and the two ligases present during ram sperm cell maturation were distinguished by biochemical and immunological methods. the expression of the genes for the heavy and light ram dna ligases has been studied using transplantation of spermatid and sperm nuclei in axolotl eggs. we found that ram dna ligases were expressed in axolotl egg cytop ...198628305254
inhibition of protein synthesis elicits early grey crescent formation in the axolotl oocyte.in the axolotl (ambystoma mexicanum shaw), it was recently shown that cycloheximide (ch) could induce early grey crescent formation (egc) in non-activated oocytes, maturing in vitro (grinfeld and beetschen 1982). since it was not proved that egc was a consequence of protein synthesis inhibition rather than a side-effect of the drug, experiments were performed using microinjections of a quite different inhibitor, diphtheria toxin (dt). this toxin also appeared to elicit egc. incorporation of (3h) ...198328305127
axial characteristics of nerve induced supernumerary limbs in the axolotl.supernumerary limbs were produced by deviating the sciatic nerve to the surface of the axolotl hindlimb either alone or in combination with small skin grafts from specific limb positions. with no skin grafts a very low frequency of good supernumeraries were produced. however, when associated with skin grafts, this frequency was significantly increased. the pattern of skeletal elements and muscles were analysed in the supernumeraries which formed at each location. in both the anterior-posterior a ...198428305105
xanthophores in chromatophore groups of the premigratory neural crest initiate the pigment pattern of the axolotl larva.the barred pigment pattern (lehman 1957) of the axolotl larva is best observed from stage 41 onwards, where it already consists of alternating transverse bands of melanophores and xanthophores along the dorsal side of the trunk. the present study investigateswhen the two populations of neural crest derived chromatophores, melanophores and xanthophores become determined andhow they interact to create the barred pigment pattern. the presence of phenol oxidase (tyrosinase) in melanophores (revealed ...198428305101
early grey crescent formation experimentally induced by cycloheximide in the axolotl oocyte.the effects of cycloheximide (ch) on grey crescent formation in artificially maturedambystoma mexicanum oocytes were determined. ch induced grey crescent formation after a few hours, especially after a 45° to 90° rotation from the vertical animal-vegetal axis. with low concentrations of ch (about 0.5 ng/oocyte), meiosis was still able to proceed normally to the stable second metaphase stage, but higher concentrations blocked it after 1st polar body extrusion and an interphasic nucleus appeared. ...198228305050
inducing effects of the grey crescent region of early developmental stages of ambystoma mexicanum.parts of the grey crescent region of 1-2 cell, 8 cell and morula stages ofambystoma mexicanum were combined with presumptive gastrula ectoderm of the same species (sandwich method).grey crescent material of the early cleavage stages induced neural tissues at a very low rate (6%-7%).from the morula stage onwards, the inducing ability of the grey crescent area increased and led to the formation of mesodermal as well as neural organs. the implanted area did not participate in the organ formations.198028304975
[studies of the activity and the isoenzyme patterns of ldh during the development ofxenopus laevis, triturus alpestris andvulgaris andambystoma mexicanum].the present paper deals with studies of the activity and the isoenzyme patterns of ldh during the development ofxenopus laevis, triturus alpestris andvulgaris andambystoma mexicanum. activity measurements have been performed with the optical test method using pyruvate as substrate and the isoenzymes have been separated by vertical starch gel electrophoresis. a) substrate optima for enzyme extracts from embryonic stages 1-38 are identical in the three speciestriturus alpestris, ambystoma mexicanu ...197528304825
the developmental potencies of the regeneration blastema of the axolotl limb.1. the developmental potencies of limb regeneration blastemas of the axolotl (ambystoma mexicanum) were tested by transplanting them to the flank or to the orbit under various experimental conditions. 2. early upper-arm blastemas transplanted singly to the damaged flank musculature or to the orbit can form forearm skeletal elements in addition to hand cartilages (digital and carpal elements). 3. fusion of the mesenchyme of several early upper-arm blastemas into one transplant leads to the format ...197028304689
[experimental investigations into the transplantation of one telencephalon hemisphere of ambystoma mexicanum during postembryonal period].1. in 52 experimental animals (ambystoma mexicanum) with a body length of 7.5-8.5 cm (including tail) the right telencephalon hemisphere was extirpated and substituted by transplantation of a hemisphere which was taken from an animal of the same bodylength. the heads of all experimental animals were cut in horizontal serial-sections. the result of the transplantation was compared with control animals (resection of one hemisphere without transplantation). 2. after transplantation marked degenerat ...196928304657
morphogenesis of mesenchyme from regeneration blastemas in the absence of digit formation in ambystoma mexicanum.1. undifferentiated fore limb blastemas were denuded of their epidermis and grafted to the flank musculature; each transplant consisted of four such blastemas. outgrowth of the mesenchyme and subsequent digit formation were prevented by covering the transplants with whole flank skin with its dermis intact. 2. notwithstanding the absence of digits, 26 out of the 36 differentiated transplants formed one or two oblong, stout cartilages resembling proximal skeletal elements of the limb. considering ...197128304630
cinematographic observation of "surface contraction waves" (scw) during the early cleavage of axolotl eggs.prior to the appearance of the cleavage furrows circular or semicircular zones suggesting surface contraction originate at the future initiation point of the cleavage furrow. they expand and travel in animal-vegetative direction.197128304568
[experimental studies on competence in early development of amphibian ectoderm].the inductive effect of lithium chloride was examined on isolated presumptive ectoderm from different developmental stages (16-32-cell stage up to the early middle gastrula stage) of triturus vulgaris and ambystoma mexicanum. the following results were obtained: 1. nearly the same temporal sequence of differentiation tendencies were found for treated ectoderm of comparable stages of ambystoma- and triturus ectoderm. the lithium treatment brought about mesodermal differentiations in the morula st ...196828304486
diffusion tensor tractography reveals muscle reconnection during axolotl limb regeneration.axolotls have amazing ability to regenerate their lost limbs. our previous works showed that after amputation the remnant muscle ends remained at their original location whilst sending satellite cells into the regenerating parts to develop into early muscle fibers in the late differentiation stage. the parental and the newly formed muscle fibers were not connected until very late stage. the present study used non-invasive diffusion tensor imaging (dti) to monitor weekly axolotl upper arm muscles ...201728253344
repeated removal of developing limb buds permanently reduces appendage size in the highly-regenerative axolotl.matching appendage size to body size is fundamental to animal function. generating an appropriately-sized appendage is a robust process executed during development which is also critical for regeneration. when challenged, larger animals are programmed to regenerate larger limbs than smaller animals within a single species. understanding this process has important implications for regenerative medicine. to approach this complex question, models with altered appendage size:body size ratios are req ...201728235582
methylene blue assay for estimation of regenerative re-epithelialization in vivo.the rapidity with which epithelial cells cover a wound surface helps determine whether scarring or scar-less healing results. as methylene blue is a vital dye that is absorbed by damaged tissue but not undamaged epidermis, it can be used to assess wound closure. we sought to develop a quantitative methylene blue exclusion assay to estimate the timeframe for re-epithelialization in regenerating appendages in zebrafish and axolotls, two classic model systems of regeneration. following application ...201728228166
regrow like an axolotl. 201728183965
chemical activation of wnt/β-catenin signalling inhibits innervation and causes skeletal tissue malformations during axolotl limb regeneration.limb regeneration involves several interrelated physiological processes in which a particular signalling pathway may play a variety of functions. blocking the function of wnt/β-catenin signalling during limb regeneration inhibits regeneration in axolotls (ambystoma mexicanum). limb development shares many features with limb regeneration, and wnt/β-catenin activation has different effects depending on the developmental stage. the aim of this study was to evaluate whether wnt/β-catenin signalling ...201728163199
mccrearamycins a-d, geldanamycin-derived cyclopentenone macrolactams from an eastern kentucky abandoned coal mine microbe.four cyclopentenone-containing ansamycin polyketides (mccrearamycins a-d), and six new geldanamycins (gdms b-g, including new linear and mycothiol conjugates), were characterized as metabolites of streptomyces sp. ad-23-14 isolated from the rock creek underground coal mine acid drainage site. biomimetic chemical conversion studies using both simple synthetic models and gdm d confirmed that the mccrearamycin cyclopentenone derives from benzilic acid rearrangement of 19-hydroxy gdm, and thereby pr ...201728140487
identification of mutant genes and introgressed tiger salamander dna in the laboratory axolotl, ambystoma mexicanum.the molecular genetic toolkit of the mexican axolotl, a classic model organism, has matured to the point where it is now possible to identify genes for mutant phenotypes. we used a positional cloning-candidate gene approach to identify molecular bases for two historic axolotl pigment phenotypes: white and albino. white (d/d) mutants have defects in pigment cell morphogenesis and differentiation, whereas albino (a/a) mutants lack melanin. we identified in white mutants a transcriptional defect in ...201728127056
oral-facial tissue reconstruction in the regenerative axolotl.absence of large amounts of orofacial tissues caused by cancerous resections, congenital defects, or trauma results in sequelae such as dysphagia and noticeable scars. oral-neck tissue regeneration was studied in the axolotl (regenerative amphibian) following a 2.5-mm punch biopsy that simultaneously removed skin, connective tissue, muscle, and cartilage in the tongue and intermandibular region. the untreated wound was studied macroscopically and histologically at 17 different time points rangin ...201628121390
a tissue-mapped axolotl de novo transcriptome enables identification of limb regeneration factors.mammals have extremely limited regenerative capabilities; however, axolotls are profoundly regenerative and can replace entire limbs. the mechanisms underlying limb regeneration remain poorly understood, partly because the enormous and incompletely sequenced genomes of axolotls have hindered the study of genes facilitating regeneration. we assembled and annotated a de novo transcriptome using rna-sequencing profiles for a broad spectrum of tissues that is estimated to have near-complete sequence ...201728099853
amphibase: a new genomic resource for non-model amphibian species.more than five thousand genes annotated in the recently published xenopus laevis and xenopus tropicalis genomes do not have a candidate orthologous counterpart in other vertebrate species. to determine whether these sequences represent genuine amphibian-specific genes or annotation errors, it is necessary to analyze them alongside sequences from other amphibian species. however, due to large genome sizes and an abundance of repeat sequences, there are limited numbers of gene sequences available ...201728095648
retinoic acid receptor regulation of epimorphic and homeostatic regeneration in the axolotl.salamanders are capable of regenerating amputated limbs by generating a mass of lineage-restricted cells called a blastema. blastemas only generate structures distal to their origin unless treated with retinoic acid (ra), which results in proximodistal (pd) limb duplications. little is known about the transcriptional network that regulates pd duplication. in this study, we target specific retinoic acid receptors (rars) to either pd duplicate (ra treatment or rarγ agonist) or truncate (rarβ antag ...201728087637
regulation of injury-induced ovarian regeneration by activation of oogonial stem cells.some animals have the ability to generate large numbers of oocytes throughout life. this raises the question whether persistent adult germline stem cell populations drive continuous oogenesis and whether they are capable of mounting a regenerative response after injury. here we demonstrate the presence of adult oogonial stem cells (oscs) in the adult axolotl salamander ovary and show that ovarian injury induces osc activation and functional regeneration of the ovaries to reproductive capability. ...201728028909
the posterior neural plate in axolotl gives rise to neural tube or turns anteriorly to form somites of the tail and posterior trunk.classical grafting experiments in the mexican axolotl had shown that the posterior neural plate of the neurula is no specified neuroectoderm but gives rise to somites of the tail and posterior trunk. the bipotentiality of this region with neuromesodermal progenitor cell populations was revealed more recently also in zebrafish, chick, and mouse. we reinvestigated the potency of the posterior plate in axolotl using grafts from transgenic embryos, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization. th ...201728017643
mechanisms of vertebrate germ cell determination.two unique characteristics of the germ line are the ability to persist from generation to generation and to retain full developmental potential while differentiating into gametes. how the germ line is specified that allows it to retain these characteristics within the context of a developing embryo remains unknown and is one focus of current research. germ cell specification proceeds through one of two basic mechanisms: cell autonomous or inductive. here, we discuss how germ plasm driven germ ce ...201727975276
joint encoding of object motion and motion direction in the salamander retina.the processing of motion in visual scenes is important for detecting and tracking moving objects as well as for monitoring self-motion through the induced optic flow. specialized neural circuits have been identified in the vertebrate retina for detecting motion direction or for distinguishing between object motion and self-motion, although little is known about how information about these distinct features of visual motion is combined. the salamander retina, which is a widely used model system f ...201627903729
detailed tail proteomic analysis of axolotl (ambystoma mexicanum) using an mrna-seq reference database.salamander axolotl has been emerging as an important model for stem cell research due to its powerful regenerative capacity. several advantages, such as the high capability of advanced tissue, organ, and appendages regeneration, promote axolotl as an ideal model system to extend our current understanding on the mechanisms of regeneration. acknowledging the common molecular pathways between amphibians and mammals, there is a great potential to translate the messages from axolotl research to mamma ...201727896924
conserved and novel functions of programmed cellular senescence during vertebrate development.cellular senescence, a form of stable cell cycle arrest that is traditionally associated with tumour suppression, has been recently found to occur during mammalian development. here, we show that cell senescence is an intrinsic part of the developmental programme in amphibians. programmed senescence occurs in specific structures during defined time windows during amphibian development. it contributes to the physiological degeneration of the amphibian pronephros and to the development of the ceme ...201727888193
accelerated cell divisions drive the outgrowth of the regenerating spinal cord in axolotls.axolotls are unique in their ability to regenerate the spinal cord. however, the mechanisms that underlie this phenomenon remain poorly understood. previously, we showed that regenerating stem cells in the axolotl spinal cord revert to a molecular state resembling embryonic neuroepithelial cells and functionally acquire rapid proliferative divisions (rodrigo albors et al., 2015). here, we refine the analysis of cell proliferation in space and time and identify a high-proliferation zone in the re ...201627885987
germline transgenic methods for tracking cells and testing gene function during regeneration in the axolotl. 201427863220
re-epithelialization of large wound in paedomorphic and metamorphic axolotls.axolotls (ambystoma mexicanum) may heal their skin wounds scar-free in both paedomorphs and metamorphs. in previous studies on small punch skin wounds, rapid re-epithelialisation was noted in these two axolotl morphs. however, large wound size in mammals may affect wound healing. in this study, large circumferential full thickness excision wounds on the hind limbs were created on juvenile paedomorphic and metamorphic axolotls. the results showed re-epithelialisation was more quickly initiated in ...201727859516
homology of the cranial vault in birds: new insights based on embryonic fate-mapping and character analysis.bones of the cranial vault appear to be highly conserved among tetrapod vertebrates. moreover, bones identified with the same name are assumed to be evolutionarily homologous. however, recent developmental studies reveal a key difference in the embryonic origin of cranial vault bones between representatives of two amniote lineages, mammals and birds, thereby challenging this view. in the mouse, the frontal is derived from cranial neural crest (cnc) but the parietal is derived from mesoderm, plac ...201627853617
live imaging of axolotl digit regeneration reveals spatiotemporal choreography of diverse connective tissue progenitor pools.connective tissues-skeleton, dermis, pericytes, fascia-are a key cell source for regenerating the patterned skeleton during axolotl appendage regeneration. this complexity has made it difficult to identify the cells that regenerate skeletal tissue. inability to identify these cells has impeded a mechanistic understanding of blastema formation. by tracing cells during digit tip regeneration using brainbow transgenic axolotls, we show that cells from each connective tissue compartment have distinc ...201627840105
multiplicity of buc copies in atlantic salmon contrasts with loss of the germ cell determinant in primates, rodents and axolotl.the primordial germ cells (pgcs) giving rise to gametes are determined by two different mechanisms in vertebrates. while the germ cell fate in mammals and salamanders is induced by zygotic signals, maternally delivered germ cell determinants specify the pgcs in birds, frogs and teleost fish. assembly of the germ plasm in the oocyte is organized by the single buc in zebrafish, named velo1 in xenopus, and by oskar in drosophila. secondary loss of oskar in several insect lineages coincides with cha ...201627784263
homeobox genes in axolotl lateral line placodes and neuromasts.gene expression has been studied in considerable detail in the developing vertebrate brain, neural crest, and some placode-derived organs. as a further investigation of vertebrate head morphogenesis, expression patterns of several homeobox-containing genes were examined using whole-mount in situ hybridization in a sensory system primitive for the vertebrate subphylum: the axolotl lateral lines and the placodes from which they develop. axolotl msx-2 and dlx-3 are expressed in all of the lateral l ...199727747426
beryllium nitrate inhibits fibroblast migration to disrupt epimorphic regeneration.epimorphic regeneration proceeds with or without formation of a blastema, as observed for the limb and skin, respectively. inhibition of epimorphic regeneration provides a means to interrogate the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate it. in this study, we show that exposing amputated limbs to beryllium nitrate disrupts blastema formation and causes severe patterning defects in limb regeneration. in contrast, exposing full-thickness skin wounds to beryllium only causes a delay in skin ...201627578793
convergent evolutionary reduction of atrial septation in lungless salamanders.nearly two thirds of the approximately 700 species of living salamanders are lungless. these species respire entirely through the skin and buccopharyngeal mucosa. lung loss dramatically impacts the configuration of the circulatory system but the effects of evolutionary lung loss on cardiac morphology have long been controversial. for example, there is presumably little need for an atrial septum in lungless salamanders due to the absence of pulmonary veins and the presence of a single source of m ...201727558020
activation of smad2 but not smad3 is required to mediate tgf-β signaling during axolotl limb regeneration.axolotls are unique among vertebrates in their ability to regenerate tissues, such as limbs, tail and skin. the axolotl limb is the most studied regenerating structure. the process is well characterized morphologically; however, it is not well understood at the molecular level. we demonstrate that tgf-β1 is highly upregulated during regeneration and that tgf-β signaling is necessary for the regenerative process. we show that the basement membrane is not prematurely formed in animals treated with ...201627549395
histological image data of limb skeletal tissue from larval and adult ambystoma mexicanum.the data presented in this article are related to the article entitled "cartilage and bone cells do not participate in skeletal regeneration in ambystoma mexicanum limbs" [1]. here we present image data of the post-embryonic development of the forelimb skeletal tissue of ambystoma mexicanum. histological staining was performed on sections from the intact limbs of young (6.5 cm) and old (25 cm) animals, and on dissected skeletal tissues (cartilage, bone, and periosteum) from these animals.201627547798
liver histological changes and lipid peroxidation in the amphibian ambystoma mexicanum induced by sediment elutriates from the lake xochimilco.lacustrine sediments accumulate pollutants that input from the lake watershed and can be released to the water column by sediment resuspension; thus, pollutants can change their bioavailability and exert adverse effects to aquatic biota. shallow-urban lakes are particularly susceptible to receive pollutants from urban discharges and sediment resuspension. lake xochimilco, in mexico city, an urban-shallow lake, faces multiple problems: urban sprawl, overexploitation of aquifers, drying of springs ...201627521947
genome-wide analysis reveals conserved transcriptional responses downstream of resting potential change in xenopus embryos, axolotl regeneration, and human mesenchymal cell differentiation.endogenous bioelectric signaling via changes in cellular resting potential (v mem) is a key regulator of patterning during regeneration and embryogenesis in numerous model systems. depolarization of v mem has been functionally implicated in dedifferentiation, tumorigenesis, anatomical re-specification, and appendage regeneration. however, no unbiased analyses have been performed to understand genome-wide transcriptional responses to v mem change in vivo. moreover, it is unknown which genes or ge ...201627499876
positional information in axolotl and mouse limb extracellular matrix is mediated via heparan sulfate and fibroblast growth factor during limb regeneration in the axolotl (ambystoma mexicanum).urodele amphibians are unique among adult vertebrates in their ability to regenerate complex body structures after traumatic injury. in salamander regeneration, the cells maintain a memory of their original position and use this positional information to recreate the missing pattern. we used an in vivo gain-of-function assay to determine whether components of the extracellular matrix (ecm) have positional information required to induce formation of new limb pattern during regeneration. we discov ...201527499874
epidermal closure regulates histolysis during mammalian (mus) digit regeneration.mammalian digit regeneration progresses through consistent stages: histolysis, inflammation, epidermal closure, blastema formation, and finally redifferentiation. what we do not yet know is how each stage can affect others. questions of stage timing, tissue interactions, and microenvironmental states are becoming increasingly important as we look toward solutions for whole limb regeneration. this study focuses on the timing of epidermal closure which, in mammals, is delayed compared to more rege ...201527499872
current advances in tissue repair and regeneration: the future is bright.the fifth embo conference on 'the molecular and cellular basis of regeneration and repair' took place in the peaceful coastal town of sant feliu de guixols (spain) on september 2014. the meeting was organised by emili saló (u. barcelona, spain), kimberly mace (u. manchester, uk), patrizia ferretti (university college london, uk) and michael brand (centre for regenerative therapies dresden, germany) and received the generous support of society for developmental biology, the company of biologists, ...201527499870
the axolotl limb blastema: cellular and molecular mechanisms driving blastema formation and limb regeneration in tetrapods.the axolotl is one of the few tetrapods that are capable of regenerating complicated biological structures, such as complete limbs, throughout adulthood. upon injury the axolotl generates a population of regeneration-competent limb progenitor cells known as the blastema, which will grow, establish pattern, and differentiate into the missing limb structures. in this review we focus on the crucial early events that occur during wound healing, the neural-epithelial interactions that drive the forma ...201527499868
talen-mediated gene editing of the thrombospondin-1 locus in axolotl.loss-of-function genetics provides strong evidence for a gene's function in a wild-type context. in many model systems, this approach has been invaluable for discovering the function of genes in diverse biological processes. axolotls are urodele amphibians (salamanders) with astonishing regenerative abilities, capable of regenerating entire limbs, portions of the tail (including spinal cord), heart, and brain into adulthood. with their relatively short generation time among salamanders, they off ...201527499866
plasticity for axolotl lens regeneration is associated with age-related changes in gene expression.mexican axolotls lose potential for lens regeneration 2 weeks after hatching. we used microarrays to identify differently expressed genes before and after this critical time, using rna isolated from iris. over 3700 genes were identified as differentially expressed in response to lentectomy between young (7 days post-hatching) and old (3 months post-hatching) axolotl larvae. strikingly, many of the genes were only expressed in the early or late iris. genes that were highly expressed in young iris ...201427499863
implication of two different regeneration systems in limb regeneration.limb regeneration is a representative phenomenon of organ regeneration in urodele amphibians, such as an axolotl. an amputated limb starts regenerating from a remaining stump (proximal) to lost finger tips (distal). in the present case, proximal-distal (pd) reorganization takes place in a regenerating tissue, called a blastema. it has been a mystery how an induced blastema recognizes its position and restores an exact replica of missing parts. recently, a new experimental system called the acces ...201427499860
ectopic blastema induction by nerve deviation and skin wounding: a new regeneration model in xenopus laevis.recently, the accessory limb model (alm) has become an alternative study system for limb regeneration studies in axolotls instead of using an amputated limb. alm progresses limb regeneration study in axolotls because of its advantages. to apply and/or to compare knowledge in axolotl alm studies to other vertebrates is a conceivable next step. first, xenopus laevis, an anuran amphibian, was investigated. a xenopus frog has hypomorphic regeneration ability. its regeneration ability has been consid ...201427499859
position-specific induction of ectopic limbs in non-regenerating blastemas on axolotl forelimbs.ectopic retinoic acid (ra) has been hypothesized to reprogram the positional identity of cells in developing and regenerating limbs to a single positional value corresponding to the posterior-ventral-proximal (pvpr) position on the limb. we tested this hypothesis by using ra to reprogram the information of blastema cells that were induced to form at different positions around the limb circumference. we observed that ra treatment of blastemas in anterior and dorsal locations, but not posterior an ...201427499858
experimentally induced metamorphosis in axolotls reduces regenerative rate and fidelity.while most tetrapods are unable to regenerate severed body parts, amphibians display a remarkable ability to regenerate an array of structures. frogs can regenerate appendages as larva, but they lose this ability around metamorphosis. in contrast, salamanders regenerate appendages as larva, juveniles, and adults. however, the extent to which fundamental traits (e.g., metamorphosis, body size, aging, etc.) restrict regenerative ability remains contentious. here we utilize the ability of normally ...201427499857
myocardial plasticity: cardiac development, regeneration and disease.the adult mammalian heart is unable to recover from myocardial cell loss due to cardiac ischemia and infarction because terminally differentiated cardiomyocytes proliferate at a low rate. however, cardiomyocytes in other vertebrate animal models such as zebrafish, axolotls, newts and mammalian mouse neonates are capable of de-differentiating in order to promote cardiomyocyte proliferation and subsequent cardiac regeneration after injury. although de-differentiation may occur in adult mammalian c ...201627498024
analysis of embryonic development in the unsequenced axolotl: waves of transcriptomic upheaval and stability.the axolotl (ambystoma mexicanum) has long been the subject of biological research, primarily owing to its outstanding regenerative capabilities. however, the gene expression programs governing its embryonic development are particularly underexplored, especially when compared to other amphibian model species. therefore, we performed whole transcriptome polya+ rna sequencing experiments on 17 stages of embryonic development. as the axolotl genome is unsequenced and its gene annotation is incomple ...201727475628
a histological atlas of the tissues and organs of neotenic and metamorphosed axolotl.axolotl (ambystoma mexicanum) has been emerging as a promising model in stem cell and regeneration researches due to its exceptional regenerative capacity. although it represents lifelong lasting neoteny, induction to metamorphosis with thyroid hormones (ths) treatment advances the utilization of axolotl in various studies. it has been reported that amphibians undergo anatomical and histological remodeling during metamorphosis and this transformation is crucial for adaptation to terrestrial cond ...201627436816
fgf and bmp derived from dorsal root ganglia regulate blastema induction in limb regeneration in ambystoma mexicanum.urodele amphibians have a remarkable organ regeneration ability that is regulated by neural inputs. the identification of these neural inputs has been a challenge. recently, fibroblast growth factor (fgf) and bone morphogenic protein (bmp) were shown to substitute for nerve functions in limb and tail regeneration in urodele amphibians. however, direct evidence of fgf and bmp being secreted from nerve endings and regulating regeneration has not yet been shown. thus, it remained uncertain whether ...201627432514
a concise review of common animal models for the study of limb regeneration.correct selection of an appropriate animal mode to closely mimic human extremity diseases or to exhibit desirable phenotypes of limb regeneration is the first critical step for all scientists in biomedical and regenerative researches. the commonly-used animals in limb regeneration and repairing studies, such as axolotl, mice, and rats, are discussed in the review and other models including cockroaches, dogs, and horses are also mentioned. the review weighs the general advantages, disadvantages, ...201627391218
a conserved microrna regulatory circuit is differentially controlled during limb/appendage regeneration.although regenerative capacity is evident throughout the animal kingdom, it is not equally distributed throughout evolution. for instance, complex limb/appendage regeneration is muted in mammals but enhanced in amphibians and teleosts. the defining characteristic of limb/appendage regenerative systems is the formation of a dedifferentiated tissue, termed blastema, which serves as the progenitor reservoir for regenerating tissues. in order to identify a genetic signature that accompanies blastema ...201627355827
could we also be regenerative superheroes, like salamanders?development of methods to reawaken the semi-dormant regenerative potential that lies within adult human tissues would hold promise for the restoration of diseased or damaged organs and tissues. while most of the regeneration potential is suppressed in many vertebrates, including humans, during adult life, urodele amphibians (salamanders) retain their regenerative ability throughout adulthood. studies in newts and axolotls, two salamander models, have provided significant knowledge about adult li ...201627338874
neuregulin-1 signaling is essential for nerve-dependent axolotl limb regeneration.the mexican axolotl (ambystoma mexicanum) is capable of fully regenerating amputated limbs, but denervation of the limb inhibits the formation of the post-injury proliferative mass called the blastema. the molecular basis behind this phenomenon remains poorly understood, but previous studies have suggested that nerves support regeneration via the secretion of essential growth-promoting factors. an essential nerve-derived factor must be found in the blastema, capable of rescuing regeneration in d ...201627317805
cartilage and bone cells do not participate in skeletal regeneration in ambystoma mexicanum limbs.the mexican axolotl is one of the few tetrapod species that is capable of regenerating complete skeletal elements in injured adult limbs. whether the skeleton (bone and cartilage) plays a role in the patterning and contribution to the skeletal regenerate is currently unresolved. we tested the induction of pattern formation, the effect on cell proliferation, and contributions of skeletal tissues (cartilage, bone, and periosteum) to the regenerating axolotl limb. we found that bone tissue grafts f ...201627316294
accessories to limb regeneration.in a recent issue of nature, nacu et al. (2016) identified fgf and hh ligands as interacting molecular influences that are necessary and sufficient to induce the formation of supernumerary limbs from blastemal tissue in axolotl salamanders.201627219058
gene expression during the first 28 days of axolotl limb regeneration i: experimental design and global analysis of gene expression.while it is appreciated that global gene expression analyses can provide novel insights about complex biological processes, experiments are generally insufficiently powered to achieve this goal. here we report the results of a robust microarray experiment of axolotl forelimb regeneration. at each of 20 post-amputation time points, we estimated gene expression for 10 replicate rna samples that were isolated from 1 mm of heterogeneous tissue collected from the distal limb tip. we show that the lim ...201527168937
adult axolotls can regenerate original neuronal diversity in response to brain injury.the axolotl can regenerate multiple organs, including the brain. it remains, however, unclear whether neuronal diversity, intricate tissue architecture, and axonal connectivity can be regenerated; yet, this is critical for recovery of function and a central aim of cell replacement strategies in the mammalian central nervous system. here, we demonstrate that, upon mechanical injury to the adult pallium, axolotls can regenerate several of the populations of neurons present before injury. notably, ...201627156560
expression analysis of baf60c during heart regeneration in axolotls and neonatal mice.some organisms, such as zebrafish, urodele amphibians, and newborn mice, have a capacity for heart regeneration following injury. however, adult mammals fail to regenerate their hearts. to know why newborn mice can regenerate their hearts, we focused on epigenetic factors, which are involved in cell differentiation in many tissues. baf60c (brg1/brm-associated factor 60c), a component of atp-dependent chromatin-remodeling complexes, has an essential role for cardiomyocyte differentiation at the e ...201627125315
fgf8 and shh substitute for anterior-posterior tissue interactions to induce limb regeneration.in salamanders, grafting of a left limb blastema onto a right limb stump yields regeneration of three limbs, the normal limb and two 'supernumerary' limbs. this experiment and other research have shown that the juxtaposition of anterior and posterior limb tissue plus innervation are necessary and sufficient to induce complete limb regeneration in salamanders. however, the cellular and molecular basis of the requirement for anterior-posterior tissue interactions were unknown. here we have clarifi ...201627120163
evolution of the head-trunk interface in tetrapod vertebrates.vertebrate neck musculature spans the transition zone between head and trunk. the extent to which the cucullaris muscle is a cranial muscle allied with the gill levators of anamniotes or is instead a trunk muscle is an ongoing debate. novel computed tomography datasets reveal broad conservation of the cucullaris in gnathostomes, including coelacanth and caecilian, two sarcopterygians previously thought to lack it. in chicken, lateral plate mesoderm (lpm) adjacent to occipital somites is a recent ...201627090084
the role of stem cells in limb regeneration.limb regeneration is a complex yet fascinating process observed to some extent in many animal species, though seen in its entirety in urodele amphibians. accomplished by formation of a morphologically uniform intermediate, the blastema, scientists have long attempted to define the cellular constituents that enable regrowth of a functional appendage. today, we know that the blastema consists of a variety of multipotent progenitor cells originating from a variety of tissues, and which contribute t ...201627008101
multicellular mathematical modelling of mesendoderm formation in amphibians.the earliest cell fate decisions in a developing embryo are those associated with establishing the germ layers. the specification of the mesoderm and endoderm is of particular interest as the mesoderm is induced from the endoderm, potentially from an underlying bipotential group of cells, the mesendoderm. mesendoderm formation has been well studied in an amphibian model frog, xenopus laevis, and its formation is driven by a gene regulatory network (grn) induced by maternal factors deposited in t ...201626934886
marcks-like protein is an initiating molecule in axolotl appendage regeneration.identifying key molecules that launch regeneration has been a long-sought goal. multiple regenerative animals show an initial wound-associated proliferative response that transits into sustained proliferation if a considerable portion of the body part has been removed. in the axolotl, appendage amputation initiates a round of wound-associated cell cycle induction followed by continued proliferation that is dependent on nerve-derived signals. a wound-associated molecule that triggers the initial ...201626934225
proteinaceous pheromone homologs identified from the cloacal gland transcriptome of a male axolotl, ambystoma mexicanum.pheromones play an important role in modifying vertebrate behavior, especially during courtship and mating. courtship behavior in urodele amphibians often includes female exposure to secretions from the cloacal gland, as well as other scent glands. the first vertebrate proteinaceous pheromone discovered, the decapeptide sodefrin, is a female attracting pheromone secreted by the cloacal gland of male cynops pyrrhogaster. other proteinaceous pheromones in salamanders have been shown to elicit resp ...201626885665
courtship pheromone use in a model urodele, the mexican axolotl (ambystoma mexicanum).sex pheromones have been shown to constitute a crucial aspect of salamander reproduction. until now, courtship pheromones of salamandridae and plethodontidae have been intensively studied, but information on chemical communication in other urodelan families is essentially lacking. the axolotl (ambystoma mexicanum, ambystomatidae) has a courtship display that suggests a key role for chemical communication in the orchestration of its sexual behavior, but no sex pheromones have yet been characteriz ...201626842386
localization of amylin-like immunoreactivity in melanocyte-stimulating hormone-containing cells of the pars intermedia but not those of the pars distalis in the axolotl (ambystoma mexicanum) pituitary.immunohistochemical techniques were employed to investigate the distribution of amylin-like immunoreactivity in the axolotl (ambystoma mexicanum) pituitary. amylin-immunoreactive cells were observed in the pars intermedia, and these cells were found to be immunoreactive for α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (αmsh) as well. in contrast, αmsh-immunoreactive cells in the pars distalis were immuno-negaitive for amylin. these light microscopic findings were confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy. amyl ...201626797189
tissue specific reactions to positional discontinuities in the regenerating axolotl limb.we investigated cellular contributions to intercalary regenerates and 180° supernumerary limbs during axolotl limb regeneration using the cell autonomous gfp marker and exchanged blastemas between white and gfp animals. after distal blastemas were grafted to proximal levels tissues of the intercalary regenerate behaved independently with regard to the law of distal transformation; graft epidermis was replaced by stump epidermis, muscle-derived cells, blood vessels and schwann cells of the distal ...201526755943
the evolution of basal progenitors in the developing non-mammalian brain.the amplification of distinct neural stem/progenitor cell subtypes during embryogenesis is essential for the intricate brain structures present in various vertebrate species. for example, in both mammals and birds, proliferative neuronal progenitors transiently appear on the basal side of the ventricular zone of the telencephalon (basal progenitors), where they contribute to the enlargement of the neocortex and its homologous structures. in placental mammals, this proliferative cell population c ...201626732839
cooperative inputs of bmp and fgf signaling induce tail regeneration in urodele amphibians.urodele amphibians have remarkable organ regeneration ability. they can regenerate not only limbs but also a tail throughout their life. it has been demonstrated that the regeneration of some organs are governed by the presence of neural tissues. for instance, limb regeneration cannot be induced without nerves. thus, identifying the nerve factors has been the primary focus in amphibian organ regeneration research. recently, substitute molecules for nerves in limb regeneration, bmp and fgfs, were ...201626703427
cellular dynamics underlying regeneration of appropriate segment number during axolotl tail regeneration.salamanders regenerate their tails after amputation anywhere along their length. how the system faithfully reconstitutes the original number of segments and length is not yet known.201526647066
positional plasticity in regenerating amybstoma mexicanum limbs is associated with cell proliferation and pathways of cellular differentiation.the endogenous ability to dedifferentiate, re-pattern, and re-differentiate adult cells to repair or replace damaged or missing structures is exclusive to only a few tetrapod species. the mexican axolotl is one example of these species, having the capacity to regenerate multiple adult structures including their limbs by generating a group of progenitor cells, known as the blastema, which acquire pattern and differentiate into the missing tissues. the formation of a limb regenerate is dependent o ...201526597593
planar cell polarity-mediated induction of neural stem cell expansion during axolotl spinal cord regeneration.axolotls are uniquely able to mobilize neural stem cells to regenerate all missing regions of the spinal cord. how a neural stem cell under homeostasis converts after injury to a highly regenerative cell remains unknown. here, we show that during regeneration, axolotl neural stem cells repress neurogenic genes and reactivate a transcriptional program similar to embryonic neuroepithelial cells. this dedifferentiation includes the acquisition of rapid cell cycles, the switch from neurogenic to pro ...201526568310
initial characterization of the large genome of the salamander ambystoma mexicanum using shotgun and laser capture chromosome sequencing.vertebrates exhibit substantial diversity in genome size, and some of the largest genomes exist in species that uniquely inform diverse areas of basic and biomedical research. for example, the salamander ambystoma mexicanum (the mexican axolotl) is a model organism for studies of regeneration, development and genome evolution, yet its genome is ~10× larger than the human genome. as part of a hierarchical approach toward improving genome resources for the species, we generated 600 gb of shotgun s ...201526553646
changes in regenerative capacity through lifespan.most organisms experience changes in regenerative abilities through their lifespan. during aging, numerous tissues exhibit a progressive decline in homeostasis and regeneration that results in tissue degeneration, malfunction and pathology. the mechanisms responsible for this decay are both cell intrinsic, such as cellular senescence, as well as cell-extrinsic, such as changes in the regenerative environment. understanding how these mechanisms impact on regenerative processes is essential to dev ...201526512653
linking vertebral number to performance of aquatic escape responses in the axolotl (ambystoma mexicanum).environmental conditions during early development in ectothermic vertebrates can lead to variation in vertebral number among individuals of the same species. it is often seen that individuals of a species raised at cooler temperatures have more vertebrae than individuals raised at warmer temperatures, although the functional consequences of this variation in vertebral number on swimming performance are relatively unclear. to investigate this relationship, we tested how vertebral number in axolot ...201526489369
dynamic membrane depolarization is an early regulator of ependymoglial cell response to spinal cord injury in axolotl.salamanders, such as the mexican axolotl, are some of the few vertebrates fortunate in their ability to regenerate diverse structures after injury. unlike mammals they are able to regenerate a fully functional spinal cord after injury. however, the molecular circuitry required to initiate a pro-regenerative response after spinal cord injury is not well understood. to address this question we developed a spinal cord injury model in axolotls and used in vivo imaging of labeled ependymoglial cells ...201526477559
hyperbaric oxygen promotes proximal bone regeneration and organized collagen composition during digit regeneration.oxygen is critical for optimal bone regeneration. while axolotls and salamanders have retained the ability to regenerate whole limbs, mammalian regeneration is restricted to the distal tip of the digit (p3) in mice, primates, and humans. our previous study revealed the oxygen microenvironment during regeneration is dynamic and temporally influential in building and degrading bone. given that regeneration is dependent on a dynamic and changing oxygen environment, a better understanding of the eff ...201526452224
identification of conserved and novel micrornas during tail regeneration in the mexican axolotl.the mexican axolotl salamander (ambystoma mexicanum) is one member of a select group of vertebrate animals that have retained the amazing ability to regenerate multiple body parts. in addition to being an important model system for regeneration, the axolotl has also contributed extensively to studies of basic development. while many genes known to play key roles during development have now been implicated in various forms of regeneration, much of the regulatory apparatus controlling the underlyi ...201526378530
generation of axolotl hematopoietic chimeras.wound repair is an extremely complex process that requires precise coordination between various cell types including immune cells. unfortunately, in mammals this usually results in scar formation instead of restoration of the original fully functional tissue, otherwise known as regeneration. various animal models like frogs and salamanders are currently being studied to determine the intracellular and intercellular pathways, controlled by gene expression, that elicit cell proliferation, differen ...201526366424
immunodetection of telomerase-like immunoreactivity in normal and regenerating tail of amphibians suggests it is related to their regenerative capacity.the high regenerative power of amphibians suggests that numerous signaling pathways remain active in larvae and adult tissues, including those stimulated by telomerases. the protein component of telomerase (tert) shows high amino acid homology in numerous vertebrates and we have utilized an antibody made for a lizard telomerase to detect a putative telomerase in amphibians tissues based on 60-75% epitope identity. western blotting studies indicate that telomerase is constitutionally present in n ...201526351773
dna methylation dynamics regulate the formation of a regenerative wound epithelium during axolotl limb regeneration.the formation of a blastema during regeneration of an axolotl limb involves important changes in the behavior and function of cells at the site of injury. one of the earliest events is the formation of the wound epithelium and subsequently the apical epidermal cap, which involves in vivo dedifferentiation that is controlled by signaling from the nerve. we have investigated the role of epigenetic modifications to the genome as a possible mechanism for regulating changes in gene expression pattern ...201526308461
primordial germ cells: the first cell lineage or the last cells standing?embryos of many animal models express germ line determinants that suppress transcription and mediate early germ line commitment, which occurs before the somatic cell lineages are established. however, not all animals segregate their germ line in this manner. the 'last cell standing' model describes primordial germ cell (pgc) development in axolotls, in which pgcs are maintained by an extracellular signalling niche, and germ line commitment occurs after gastrulation. here, we propose that this 's ...201526286941
comparative analysis of cartilage marker gene expression patterns during axolotl and xenopus limb regeneration.axolotls (ambystoma mexicanum) can completely regenerate lost limbs, whereas xenopus laevis frogs cannot. during limb regeneration, a blastema is first formed at the amputation plane. it is thought that this regeneration blastema forms a limb by mechanisms similar to those of a developing embryonic limb bud. furthermore, xenopus laevis frogs can form a blastema after amputation; however, the blastema results in a terminal cone-shaped cartilaginous structure called a "spike." the causes of this p ...201526186213
regeneration inducers in limb regeneration.limb regeneration ability, which can be observed in amphibians, has been investigated as a representative phenomenon of organ regeneration. recently, an alternative experimental system called the accessory limb model was developed to investigate early regulation of amphibian limb regeneration. the accessory limb model contributed to identification of limb regeneration inducers in urodele amphibians. furthermore, the accessory limb model may be applied to other species to explore universality of ...201526100345
the axolotl fibula as a model for the induction of regeneration across large segment defects in long bones of the extremities.we tested the ability of the axolotl (ambystoma mexicanum) fibula to regenerate across segment defects of different size in the absence of intervention or after implant of a unique 8-braid pig small intestine submucosa (sis) scaffold, with or without incorporated growth factor combinations or tissue protein extract. fractures and defects of 10% and 20% of the total limb length regenerated well without any intervention, but 40% and 50% defects failed to regenerate after either simple removal of b ...201526098852
using ambystoma mexicanum (mexican axolotl) embryos, chemical genetics, and microarray analysis to identify signaling pathways associated with tissue regeneration.amphibian vertebrates are important models in regenerative biology because they present exceptional regenerative capabilities throughout life. however, it takes considerable effort to rear amphibians to juvenile and adult stages for regeneration studies, and the relatively large sizes that frogs and salamanders achieve during development make them difficult to use in chemical screens. here, we introduce a new tail regeneration model using late stage mexican axolotl embryos. we show that axolotl ...201526092703
mesodermal origin of median fin mesenchyme and tail muscle in amphibian larvae.mesenchyme is an embryonic precursor tissue that generates a range of structures in vertebrates including cartilage, bone, muscle, kidney, and the erythropoietic system. mesenchyme originates from both mesoderm and the neural crest, an ectodermal cell population, via an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (emt). because ectodermal and mesodermal mesenchyme can form in close proximity and give rise to similar derivatives, the embryonic origin of many mesenchyme-derived tissues is still unclear. ...201526086331
expression of tropomyosin in relation to myofibrillogenesis in axolotl hearts.the anatomy, function and embryonic development of the heart have been of interest to clinicians and researchers alike for centuries. a beating heart is one of the key criteria in defining life or death in humans. an understanding of the multitude of genetic and functional elements that interplay to form such a complex organ is slowly evolving with new genetic, molecular and experimental techniques. despite the need for ever more complex molecular techniques some of our biggest leaps in knowledg ...201325984327
dual embryonic origin and patterning of the pharyngeal skeleton in the axolotl (ambystoma mexicanum).the impressive morphological diversification of vertebrates was achieved in part by innovation and modification of the pharyngeal skeleton. extensive fate mapping in amniote models has revealed a primarily cranial neural crest derivation of the pharyngeal skeleton. although comparable fate maps of amphibians produced over several decades have failed to document a neural crest derivation of ventromedial elements in these vertebrates, a recent report provides evidence of a mesodermal origin of one ...201525963195
recurrent turnover of senescent cells during regeneration of a complex structure.cellular senescence has been recently linked to the promotion of age-related pathologies, including a decline in regenerative capacity. while such capacity deteriorates with age in mammals, it remains intact in species such as salamanders, which have an extensive repertoire of regeneration and can undergo multiple episodes through their lifespan. here we show that, surprisingly, there is a significant induction of cellular senescence during salamander limb regeneration, but that rapid and effect ...201525942455
an aryl hydrocarbon receptor from the salamander ambystoma mexicanum exhibits low sensitivity to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.structural features of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (ahr) can underlie species- and population-specific differences in its affinity for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (tcdd). these differences often explain variations in tcdd toxicity. frogs are relatively insensitive to dioxin, and xenopus ahrs bind tcdd with low affinity. weak tcdd binding results from the combination of three residues in the ligand-binding domain: a354 and a370, and n325. here we sought to determine whether this mechani ...201525941739
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