Investigating the role of nerves in regeneration in a primer for “Hyperinnervation improves Xenopus laevis limb regeneration”
Emily Schroer
Abstract
Xenopus laevis froglets have the ability to regenerate their limbs but not to a full extent. A regenerated limb consists of a limb “spike” with no digits. Along with this, many developmental genes are not expressed as much during regeneration as they are in development. The goal of this primer is to review a study done by Mitowaga et al. that examined whether increasing nerve count improves limb regeneration in Xenopus laevis
froglets. Hyperinnervated limbs resulted in more complex bone structures called multiple cartilaginous and branched. Analysis of genes involved in limb development (hoxa13, lmx1b, and shh) indicated expression was upregulated post hyperinnervation. These results indicate that increasing nerve counts in limbs improves overall limb regeneration. Along with this, amplified gene expression in the regenerating blastemas occurred.
