Examining the induction of limb regeneration through modulation of stump currents by the sodium ionphore monensin in non-regenerating post-metamorphic Rana pipiens frogs.
Hessler Jr., David Patterson.
2011
- Limb regeneration in mammals has long been a notion better belonging to the science fiction realm than in reality. Humans are able to demonstrate some regenerative capabilities in the liver and in the regenerating fingertips of young children (Illingsworth 1974). Here we demonstrate a study aimed to inducing regeneration of an amputated limb by an adult non-regenerative frog. Regenerative medicine ... read moreis an incredibly interesting field of research and its potential for therapeutic treatment is unmatched. While previous studies have focused on electrical stimulation (Smith 1974 & Borgens 1977), we examined a pharmacological means of increasing the stump current. Rana are a non-regenerative species of frog that serve as a model organism to study regenerative growth. Previous studies by the Levin Lab have demonstrated that regeneration in vertebrates can be induced by transient sodium current, specifically by the selective sodium ionphore monensin. Frogs were amputated at the right forelimb and allowed to fully heal before treatment was applied. The objective of this project was to examine the regenerative abilities of the Rana pipiens frogs in response to monensin treatments in sodium baths. Therefore, this study sought to determine the ability of monensin to induce a regenerative event to post-morphogenic non-regenerative frogs. Although the study is still at an early time point and full analytical data is not yet recorded, early indication shows that treatment with monensin and sodium is capable of inducing a regeneration event in adult Rana pipiens. When compared to water treated and monensin only treatment groups, the monensin + sodium treatment produced results that appear indicative of blastema formation and propagation. After all growth has halted and animals are sacrificed, histological data will reveal what structures, if any, were regenerated.read less
- ID:
- mg74qz122
- Component ID:
- tufts:UA005.019.019.00001
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