Refining the Ciona intestinalis model of central nervous system regeneration.

ABSTRACT:

Background

New, practical models of central nervous system regeneration are required and should provide molecular tools and resources. We focus here on the tunicate Ciona intestinalis, which has the capacity to regenerate nerves and a complete adult central nervous system, a capacity unusual in the chordate phylum. We investigated the timing and sequence of events during nervous system regeneration in this organism.

Methodology/principal findings

We developed techniques for reproducible ablations and for imaging live cellular events in tissue explants. Based on live observations of more than 100 regenerating animals, we subdivided the regeneration process into four stages. Regeneration was functional, as shown by the sequential recovery of reflexes that established new crite

SUBMITTER: Dahlberg C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2639796 | biostudies-literature | 2009

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature