Amphibians can regenerate missing body parts, including limbs. The regulation of collagen has been considered to be important in limb regeneration. Collagen deposition is suppressed during limb regeneration, so we investigated collagen deposition and apical epithelial cap (AEC) formation during axolotl limb regeneration. The accessory limb model (ALM) has been developed as an alternative model for studying limb regeneration. Using this model, we investigated the relationship between nerves, epidermis, and collagen deposition. We found that Sp-9, an AEC marker gene, was upregulated by direct interaction between nerves and epidermis. However, collagen deposition hindered this interaction, and resulted in the failure of limb regeneration. During wound healing, an increase in deposition of collagen caused a decrease in the blastema induction rate in ALM. Wound healing and limb regeneration are alternate processes.
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1 March 2012
Collagen Reconstitution is Inversely Correlated with Induction of Limb Regeneration in Ambystoma mexicanum
Akira Satoh,
Ayako Hirata,
Aki Makanae
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Zoological Science
Vol. 29 • No. 3
March 2012
Vol. 29 • No. 3
March 2012
accessory limb model
Collagen
epidermis
limb regeneration
nerve
Sp-9