Successful neural regeneration in amniotes: the developing chick spinal cord

Cell. Mol. Life Sci., 2008 · DOI: 10.1007/s00018-007-7430-2 · Published: November 20, 2007

Regenerative Medicine Neurology Genetics

Simple Explanation

The chick embryo is an ideal model for direct comparisons of regenerating and non-regenerating spinal cord within the same species because of its accessibility in ovo, the extensive knowledge of chick neural development and the molecular tools now available. Regenerative ability in the chick is lost at around E13, a relatively advanced stage of spinal cord development. This is most likely due to a complex series of events: there is evidence to suggest that developmentally regulated changes in the early response to injury, expression of inhibitory molecules and neurogenesis may contribute to loss of regenerative capacity in the chick spinal cord.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Chick embryos

Evidence Level

Review

Key Findings

1
Clearwaters reported regeneration in the embryonic spinal cord, but lack of regeneration and extensive scarring in the postnatal spinal cord.
2
Complete anatomical and functional repair after transection injury, however, is observed up until E12 [24, 38], when the spinal cord is at an advanced stage of maturation.
3
Key to regenerative capability and functional recovery is the ability of surviving neurons to extend axons to the appropriate target.

Research Summary

Significant spinal cord regeneration following injury is not observed in any adult higher vertebrates (amniotes), but can occur in some lower vertebrates (anamniotes) such as tailed amphibians and fish. The chick spinal cord provides an ideal model for combining experimental embryology approaches with mechanistic analysis at the cellular and molecular level. This will not only help to answer some fundamental questions in biology but also to devise novel strategies to gain successful regeneration in the injured or diseased mammalian spinal cord.

Practical Implications

Understanding Regeneration

The study provides insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying spinal cord regeneration.

Therapeutic Strategies

Identifying factors that contribute to the loss of regenerative ability can help devise novel strategies to promote regeneration in mammalian spinal cord.

Model System

The chick spinal cord serves as a valuable model for studying spinal cord regeneration due to its accessibility and extensive knowledge of its neural development.

Study Limitations

1
The mechanisms underlying regulation of these decisions are complex and not yet fully determined.
2
It is not yet clear to which extent de novo neurogenesis plays a role in regeneration of the chick spinal cord at permissive stages
3
Overall, it appears that both intrinsic and extrinsic changes contribute to loss of neuronal regeneration in the chick spinal cord.

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