Two distinct evolutionary conserved neural degeneration pathways characterized in a colonial chordate.

ABSTRACT: Colonial tunicates are marine organisms that possess multiple brains simultaneously during their colonial phase. While the cyclical processes of neurogenesis and neurodegeneration characterizing their life cycle have been documented previously, the cellular and molecular changes associated with such processes and their relationship with variation in brain morphology and individual (zooid) behavior throughout adult life remains unknown. Here, we introduce Botryllus schlosseri as an invertebrate model for neurogenesis, neural degeneration, and evolutionary neuroscience. Our analysis reveals that during the weekly colony budding (i.e., asexual reproduction), prior to programmed cell death and removal by phagocytes, decreases in the number of neurons in the adult brain are associated wi

SUBMITTER: Anselmi C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9303981 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature