Vertebrate-like regeneration in the invertebrate chordate amphioxus.
In this article, the authors focus on the understanding of the possible regeneration process of some animals but not iof all. To address this question, the authors have studied the basal chordate amphioxus. According to their research, adults of the European amphioxus Branchiostoma lanceolatum are able to regenerate both anterior and posterior structures, including neural tube, notochord, fin, and muscle (See picture on the left. Amphioxus tail, regenerated after amputation: notice muscle and notochord newly grown.© BIOM, Ildikó Somorjai). The process involves loss of differentiated characteristics, formation of an msx-expressing blastema, and neurogenesis. Moreover, regeneration is linked to the activation of satellite-like Pax3/7 progenitor cells, the extent of which declines with size and age. Their results provide a framework for understanding the evolution and diversity of regeneration mechanisms in vertebrates.
Somorjai IML, Somorjai RL, Garcia-Fernàndez J, and Escriva H. 2012. Vertebrate-like regeneration in the invertebrate chordate amphioxus. In PNAS (2012), 109(2): 517–522. Full text in PDF
