A spatial transcriptomics comparison of the adult versus metamorphosed axolotl brain

ABSTRACT: The Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is an established model for studying tetrapod regeneration and development. Notably, axolotls exhibit remarkable brain regeneration as adults, a trait rarely observed in other adult vertebrates. Adult axolotls can undergo metamorphosis, a process that induces dramatic remodeling of multiple organs and is accompanied by a gradual decline in regenerative capacity and lifespan. However, systematic studies on whole-brain cellular dynamics and molecular mechanisms in both adult and metamorphosed individuals remain lacking. Here, we profiled five representative brain regions (olfactory bulb, telencephalon, diencephalon/mesencephalon, rhombencephalon, and pituitary) of the axolotl brain via spatial transcriptomics in both adult and metamorphosed individuals. Our work reveals metamorphosis-associated changes in cell types and molecular profiles across brain regions.

ORGANISM(S): Ambystoma mexicanum

PROVIDER: GSE317755 | GEO | 2026/01/28

REPOSITORIES: GEO