Re-growth, morphogenesis and differentiation during starfish arm regeneration

Yousra Ben Khadra, Cinzia Ferrario, Khaled Said, Cristiano Di Benedetto, Francesco Bonasoro, M. Daniela Candia Carnevali, Michela Sugni

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

The red starfish Echinaster sepositus is an excellent model for studying arm regeneration processes following traumatic amputation. The initial repair phase was described in a previous paper in terms of the early cicatrisation phenomena, and tissue and cell involvement. In this work we attempt to provide a further comprehensive description of the later regenerative stages in this species. Here we present the results of a detailed microscopic and submicroscopic investigation of the long regenerative phase, which can be subdivided into two sub-phases: early and advanced regenerative phases. The early regenerative phase (1-6 weeks p.a.) is characterized by tissue rearrangement, morphogenetic processes and initial differentiation events (mainly neurogenesis and skeletogenesis). The advanced regenerative phase (after 6 weeks p.a.) is characterized by further differentiation processes (early myogenesis), and obvious morphogenesis and re-growth of the regenerate. As in other starfish, the regenerative process in E. sepositus is relatively slow in comparison with that of crinoids and many ophiuroids, which is usually interpreted as resulting mainly from size-related aspects and of the more conspicuous involvement of morphallactic processes. Light and electron microscopy analyses suggest that some of the amputated structures, such as muscles, are not able to replace their missing parts by directly regrowing them from the remaining tissues, whereas others tissues, such as the skeleton and the radial nerve cord, appear to undergo direct re-growth. The overall process is in agreement with the distalization-intercalation model proposed by Agata and co-workers (1). Further experiments are needed to confirm this hypothesis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)623-634
Number of pages12
JournalWound Repair and Regeneration
Volume23
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 31 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Dermatology

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