The role of fasting on spine regeneration and bacteremia in the purple sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus.

ABSTRACT: Fasting has been shown to increase longevity and alter immune function in a variety of animals, but little is understood about how reduced caloric intake may impact regeneration and infections in animals that must regularly repair and regenerate tissue in marine environments that contain high levels of bacteria. We examined the possibility that fasting could enhance spine regeneration and reduce bacteremia in the purple sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. A small number of spines were removed from urchins and rates of spine regrowth and levels of culturable bacteria from the coelomic fluid were measured for 21 days in fed and fasted urchins. Fasted urchins had higher rates of spine regrowth and lower levels of colony-forming units (CFU) per milliliter of coeolomic fluid. The predomin

SUBMITTER: Scholnick DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7018041 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature