Angiogenesis During Multi-tissue Regeneration Following Tail Loss in the Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius)

Date

2012-09-04

Authors

Payne, Samantha Louise

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Publisher

University of Guelph

Abstract

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature, is important in post-injury scar formation but its role in scar-free regeneration remains relatively unexplored. This study investigates vascular regeneration during tail regeneration in the leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius). It is hypothesized that blood vessel regeneration follows a conserved sequence of events similar to physiological angiogenesis. To test this hypothesis the onset and pattern of expression of common vascular and angiogenic proteins (von Willebrand factor, α-smooth muscle actin, vascular endothelial growth factor, thrombospondin-1 and cluster differentiation 36) was investigated. The effect of the anti-angiogenic peptide ABT-510 on tail regeneration was also explored by documenting changes in vascular morphology and histology of regenerate tails. Results show that the proteins of interest are expressed in a conserved sequence consistent with physiological angiogenesis. ABT-510 did not consistently prevent tail regeneration, but did have some small-scale effects. These results provide the basis for further investigations into the importance of angiogenesis during multi-tissue regeneration.

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Keywords

Angiogenesis, Regeneration, Gecko, Vasculature

Citation