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Recruitment of postmitotic neurons into the regenerating spinal cord of urodeles
Author(s) -
Zhang Fang,
Ferretti Patrizia,
Clarke Jonathan D.W.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.10230
Subject(s) - spinal cord , biology , ependymal cell , regeneration (biology) , cord , anatomy , neuroscience , process (computing) , microbiology and biotechnology , geometry , mathematics , computer science , operating system
Abstract By using fluorescent tracers, we have investigated the origin of the cells that form the regenerating spinal cord after tail amputation in urodele amphibians. We show that spinal cord cells immediately adjacent to the amputation plane die and are removed by phagocytic cells. Spinal cells just anterior to these dying cells are destined to make the majority of the regenerating cord. The largest contribution is likely to come from the radial ependymal cells, but we also demonstrate that postmitotic neurons in this location can translocate into the regenerating cord. These neurons integrate into the regenerate structure and survive for at least 4 weeks. We find no evidence that these translocated neurons dedifferentiate and divide during this regeneration process. We discuss the possibility that these neurons survive long term in the regenerate cord and become part of the functional neuronal circuitry. Developmental Dynamics 226:341–348, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.