V-ATPase Regulates Retinal Progenitor Cell Proliferation During Eye Regrowth in .

The induction of retinal progenitor cell (RPC) proliferation is a strategy that holds promise for alleviating retinal degeneration. However, the mechanisms that can stimulate RPC proliferation during repair remain unclear. tailbud embryos successfully regrow functional eyes within 5 days after ablation, and this process requires increased RPC proliferation.

From Cell Death to Regeneration: Rebuilding After Injury.

The ability to regrow lost or damaged tissues is widespread, but highly variable among animals. Understanding this variation remains a challenge in regeneration biology. Numerous studies from to mouse have shown that apoptosis acts as a potent and necessary mechanism in regeneration.

Studying In Vivo Retinal Progenitor Cell Proliferation in Xenopus laevis.

The efficient generation and maintenance of retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) are key goals needed for developing strategies for productive eye repair. Although vertebrate eye development and retinogenesis are well characterized, the mechanisms that can initiate RPC proliferation following injury-induced regrowth and repair remain unknown. This is partly because endogenous RPC proliferation typically occurs during embryogenesis while studies of retinal regeneration have largely utilized adult (or mature) models.

Using the Developmental Eye Regrowth System to Distinguish the Role of Developmental Versus Regenerative Mechanisms.

A longstanding challenge in regeneration biology is to understand the role of developmental mechanisms in restoring lost or damaged tissues and organs. As these body structures were built during embryogenesis, it is not surprising that a number of developmental mechanisms are also active during regeneration. However, it remains unclear whether developmental mechanisms act similarly or differently during regeneration as compared to development.

A model for investigating developmental eye repair in Xenopus laevis.

Vertebrate eye development is complex and requires early interactions between neuroectoderm and surface ectoderm during embryogenesis. In the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, individual eye tissues such as the retina and lens can undergo regeneration. However, it has been reported that removal of either the specified eye field at the neurula stage or the eye during tadpole stage does not induce replacement.