TY - JOUR
T1 - Axolotl liver regeneration is accomplished via compensatory congestion mechanisms regulated by ERK signaling after partial hepatectomy
AU - Ohashi, Ayaka
AU - Saito, Nanami
AU - Kashimoto, Rena
AU - Furukawa, Saya
AU - Yamamoto, Sakiya
AU - Satoh, Akira
N1 - Funding Information:
We are grateful to Ms T. Satoh and Dr A. Suzuki (Kyusyu University) for their kind support and supportive comments, respectively. Animals were obtained from Hiroshima University Amphibian Research Center. This work was supported by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI (#20H03264 to AS).
Funding Information:
We are grateful to Ms T. Satoh and Dr A. Suzuki (Kyusyu University) for their kind support and supportive comments, respectively. Animals were obtained from Hiroshima University Amphibian Research Center. This work was supported by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI (#20H03264 to AS).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 American Association of Anatomists
PY - 2021/6
Y1 - 2021/6
N2 - Background: Axolotls have remarkable organ-level regeneration capability. They can regenerate their limbs, tail, brain, gills, and heart. The liver had been considered to be a regenerative organ in these highly regeneration-competent animals. Therefore, no research had been performed on liver regeneration in urodele amphibians. In the present study, we focused on axolotl liver regeneration and found a unique regeneration mechanism compared with other vertebrates. Results: Partial hepatectomy (PH) was performed to assess axolotl liver regeneration. Regeneration was assessed using block-face imaging (CoMBi), histology, cell proliferation, weight gain, and Albumin (Alb) + area. Axolotl liver histology was compared with other vertebrates. Axolotl liver consists of Glisson's capsule, sinusoids, and hepatic cord with no apparent lobule structures. Hepatocytes were mononucleated or multinucleated. PH increased the multinucleated hepatocytes and the Alb + area, but there was no apparent liver shape recovery even 40 days after PH. Gene expression pattern suggests that no epimorphic regeneration takes place. We also found that the increase in the number of proliferating hepatocytes was regulated by ERK-signaling. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that axolotls, which have epimorphic regeneration ability, regenerate their liver via unique mechanisms, compensatory congestion.
AB - Background: Axolotls have remarkable organ-level regeneration capability. They can regenerate their limbs, tail, brain, gills, and heart. The liver had been considered to be a regenerative organ in these highly regeneration-competent animals. Therefore, no research had been performed on liver regeneration in urodele amphibians. In the present study, we focused on axolotl liver regeneration and found a unique regeneration mechanism compared with other vertebrates. Results: Partial hepatectomy (PH) was performed to assess axolotl liver regeneration. Regeneration was assessed using block-face imaging (CoMBi), histology, cell proliferation, weight gain, and Albumin (Alb) + area. Axolotl liver histology was compared with other vertebrates. Axolotl liver consists of Glisson's capsule, sinusoids, and hepatic cord with no apparent lobule structures. Hepatocytes were mononucleated or multinucleated. PH increased the multinucleated hepatocytes and the Alb + area, but there was no apparent liver shape recovery even 40 days after PH. Gene expression pattern suggests that no epimorphic regeneration takes place. We also found that the increase in the number of proliferating hepatocytes was regulated by ERK-signaling. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that axolotls, which have epimorphic regeneration ability, regenerate their liver via unique mechanisms, compensatory congestion.
KW - ERK signaling
KW - compensatory congestion
KW - hepatectomy
KW - hepatocyte
KW - liver regeneration
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U2 - 10.1002/dvdy.262
DO - 10.1002/dvdy.262
M3 - Article
C2 - 33064366
AN - SCOPUS:85093872214
VL - 250
SP - 838
EP - 851
JO - American Journal of Anatomy
JF - American Journal of Anatomy
SN - 1058-8388
IS - 6
ER -