TheScientificWorldJOURNAL, 2006 · DOI: 10.1100/tsw.2006.113 · Published: May 5, 2006
Axolotls possess a remarkable ability to regenerate multiple structures throughout their lives, including limbs, jaws, tail, spinal cord, and skin. This ability has been known for over 200 years, but the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. Regeneration shares similarities with development and wound healing. Understanding the axolotl's regenerative capacity could provide insights for regenerative medicine, potentially leading to therapies that promote regeneration in humans. Limb regeneration in axolotls involves a preparation phase and a redevelopment phase. The preparation phase involves wound healing processes, while the redevelopment phase mirrors embryonic development.
Understanding axolotl regeneration could lead to new therapies for tissue repair and regeneration in humans.
Development of new tools for functional analysis in axolotls will help identify key genes and signaling pathways involved in regeneration.
Comparing regeneration in axolotls with wound healing in mammals can reveal why mammals form scar tissue instead of regenerating perfectly.