Hydra as a unique model for the study of regenerative mechanisms in metazoans
- MOJ Anatomy & Physiology
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Michael P Sarras Jr
Abstract
The study of regeneration has led to remarkable contributions to medicine with the advent of stem cell biology and the application of stem cells in the treatment of human trauma and disease. Along with a number of other animals, Hydra represents a premier organism for the study of stem cells and regeneration in general. Initiated by the studies of Trembley in the 1700 hundreds, Hydra has allowed for the basis of biochemical, cellular, mechanical, and molecular studies on the underlying mechanisms of regeneration. By using new molecular techniques one is able to take advantage of the fact that Hydra is under constant renewal and this allows one to thereby dissect details of the renewal process as will be discussed in this review.
Keywords
hydra, regeneration, mechanical mechanisms, cellular mechanisms, molecular mechanisms, head activation, head inhibition, extracellular matrix, regenerative capacity, non-epithelial cells, endoderm, epithelial cells, capable of reorganizing, cell-ECM interactions, axes, gradient systems