A staging system for the regeneration of a polyp from the aboral physa of the anthozoan Cnidarian Nematostella vectensis

Abstract

Background: As the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis emerges as a model for studying regeneration, new tools will be needed to assess its regenerative processes and describe perturbations resulting from experimental investigation. Chief among these is the need for a universal set of staging criteria to establish morphological landmarks that will provide a common format for discussion among investigators. Results: We have established morphological criteria to describe stages for rapidly assessing regeneration of the aboral end (physa) of Nematostella. Using this staging system, we observed rates of regeneration that are temperature independent during wound healing and temperature dependent afterward. Treatment with 25 mM lipoic acid delays the progression through wound healing without significantly affecting the subsequent rate of regeneration. Also, while an 11-day starvation before amputation causes only a minimal delay in regeneration, this delay is exacerbated by lipoic acid treatment. Conclusions: A system for staging the progression of regeneration in amputated Nematostella physa based on easily discernible morphological features provides a standard for the field. This system has allowed us to identify both temperature-dependent and -independent phases of regeneration, as well as a nutritional requirement for normal regenerative progression that is exacerbated by lipoic acid. Developmental Dynamics 242:1320-1331, 2013. V C 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Key words: regeneration; Cnidarian; Nematostella; staging system; lipoic acid; Anthozoa Key findings:We have established a staging system for regeneration in Nematostella vectensis. Permits rapid staging based on easily discernible morphological criteria. Allowed us to identify both delays in and reduced rates of regeneration.

Diversity of Cnidarian Muscles: Function, Anatomy, Development and Regeneration

“…Recent work suggests that muscle contraction could play a primary role during the regenerative process, by promoting wound healing in Nematostella (Bossert et al, 2013) and allowing juvenile scyphozoan jellyfish to reshape rapidly into a functional body, in a process recently called “symmetrization” (Abrams et al, 2015). Interestingly, mammary myoepithelial cells, in addition to their contractile function, preserve also the regenerative potential of the tissue and are able to modulate in an integrin mediated process the proliferation and differentiation of surrounding cells (Deugnier et al, 2006; Shackleton et al, 2006; Stingl et al, 2006; Sleeman et al, 2007; reviewed in Moumen et al, 2011).…”

“…Nematostella vectensis is emerging as a new regeneration model (Reitzel et al, 2007; Trevino et al, 2011; Passamaneck and Martindale, 2012; Bossert et al, 2013; DuBuc et al, 2014; Amiel et al, 2015), particularly well-suited to compare development and regeneration within the same organism (Burton and Finnerty, 2009; Layden et al, 2016). Recent studies have analyzed its basic regeneration capacity (Figure 6D; Reitzel et al, 2007; Amiel et al, 2015), establishing precise staging systems to analyze the regeneration process under physiological and perturbation conditions (Bossert et al, 2013; Amiel et al, 2015), and developing new in vivo tools to asses wound healing, pharynx formation and tissue tracing (Amiel et al, 2015).…”

“…Recent studies have analyzed its basic regeneration capacity (Figure 6D; Reitzel et al, 2007; Amiel et al, 2015), establishing precise staging systems to analyze the regeneration process under physiological and perturbation conditions (Bossert et al, 2013; Amiel et al, 2015), and developing new in vivo tools to asses wound healing, pharynx formation and tissue tracing (Amiel et al, 2015). These studies have shown that cellular proliferation is induced at the amputation site and required for the regeneration process (Passamaneck and Martindale, 2012; Amiel et al, 2015).…”

“…A recent study suggested that muscle contraction could play a role in regeneration of missing body parts (Bossert et al, 2013). In fact, contraction of the circumferential muscle fibers may be involved in reducing the size of the wound in isolated adult physa (the most aboral part of the polyp in burrowing actiniaria) and thus, potentially promoting the wound healing process and the reformation of oral structures.…”

Genomics and development of Nematostella vectensis and other anthozoans

“…In addition to the areas discussed here, the expanding resources and experimental toolkit will benefit research that takes advantage of specific aspects of the biology of Nematostella, as for example the high tolerance to varying environmental conditions and the high regenerative capacity [84][85][86][87][88]. Importantly, the advancement of anthozoan model systems for symbiosis, calcification and stress biology is imperative for attempts to counteract the global decline of coral reefs (e.g.…”