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Alligators can regrow their tails up to 9 inches after being bitten – just like lizards, they study finds
- US researchers studied young alligators in the wild in Louisiana
- They found evidence that some had regrown tails that had previously been lost
- The new appendages were complex structures of cartilage, tissues and nerves
- The findings could help develop regenerative treatments for human patients
Just like their smaller cousins, lizards, young alligators are able to regenerate lost tails, regrowing them up to 9 inches, according to a study.
While small lizards are known to have limited regenerative abilities, it was unclear whether the same applies to larger reptiles, which can reach 14 feet in length.
Experts from Arizona and Louisiana analyzed alligators in the wild and found that juveniles could regrow complex tails of cartilage, connective tissues, and nerves.
According to the team, the ability to regrow their tails when lost gives alligators an edge in their dark aquatic habitats.
Just like their smaller cousins, lizards, young alligators (pictured) are capable of regenerating lost tails – regrowing them up to 9 inches (about 23 cm), a study has found
“What makes the alligator interesting, aside from its size, is that the regrown tail shows signs of regeneration and wound healing within the same structure,” said author and biologist Cindy Xu of Arizona State University. .
‘The regrowth of cartilage, blood vessels, nerves and scales was consistent with previous lizard tail regeneration studies from our lab and others,’ he added.
“However, we were surprised to discover scar-like connective tissue in place of skeletal muscle in the regrown alligator tail.”
In their study, Dr. Xu and colleagues analyzed the structure of the regrown tissues using various advanced imaging techniques, finding that the regenerated appendages were complex structures.
They comprise a central skeleton made of cartilage, surrounded by connective tissues intertwined with both blood vessels and nerves.
“We see alligators in the field with some indication of possible re-growth of tail tissue,” noted Ruth Elsey, a biologist with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
However, he explained, it was only when their biologists collaborated with Arizona-based experts that they were able to detail “the histological changes associated with the ability for possible partial tail regrowth or wound repair.”
Like us humans, alligators and lizards belong to a group of skeletal animals called amniotes. Understanding how different species regenerate lost body parts will shed light on the extent and nature of the process through amniotes, the team said.
“The ancestors of alligators, dinosaurs and birds separated about 250 million years ago,” said article author and biologist Kenro Kusumi, also of Arizona State.
‘Our discovery that alligators retained the cellular mechanism for regrowing complex tails while birds lost that ability raises the question of when in evolution this ability was lost.’
‘Are there fossils out there of dinosaurs whose lineage has led to modern birds with regrown tails? So far we have not found any evidence of this in the published literature, ‘added Professor Kusumi.
In their study, Dr. Xu and colleagues analyzed the structure of the regrown tissues using various advanced imaging techniques, finding that the regenerated appendages were complex structures. They comprise a central skeleton made of cartilage, surrounded by connective tissues intertwined with both blood vessels and nerves
‘Future comparative studies will be important to understand why regenerative capacity varies between different groups of reptiles and animals,’ concluded Dr. Xu.
The findings can also lead to medical applications, such as in treating diseases such as arthritis and helping patients recover from injuries.
“If we understand how different animals are able to repair and regenerate tissue, this knowledge can be harnessed to develop medical therapies,” said article author and anatomist Rebecca Fisher of the University of Arizona.
The full results of the study were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
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