Regeneration is an extraordinary process shared across a diverse range of organisms. However, for most organisms, including humans, the range of regenerative capacity is lost after embryonic development and declines as development progresses. The mechanisms responsible behind the decline in regenerative capacity still need to be better understood. Some vertebrates, such as newts, have remarkable regeneration abilities, as they can regenerate many different tissues throughout their lifetime. In the Dr. Del Rio-Tsonis regeneration lab, we study lens regeneration in the Spanish newt. Following the complete removal of the lens (lentectomy), newts can grow a brand new lens by reprogramming their dorsal iris pigmented epithelial cells (iPECs). Most importantly, this ability is not lost after repeated injury or by old age. In this study, we used optical coherence tomography, EdU staining, and collagen cytochemistry to uncover the mechanisms that control regeneration across the newts’ lifetime. We have identified differences in the rate of regeneration, quantity of cells participating in proliferation, and extra-cellular matrix remodeling across the different developmental stages. The results from this study suggest that even though lens regeneration is not restricted to younger animals, intrinsic and extrinsic changes due to aging negatively regulates the regeneration process. These findings shed light on mechanisms that control lens regeneration in older newts and can provide meaningful insights for characterizing the agents responsible for age-related regeneration decline in other vertebrates such as humans. Understanding the complexity of these cellular processes will help me in my future career as a physician, as I will have to be able to understand the intricate cellular biology involved in my patients’ health.
Presenter(s): Gabriella Theodoroudis, Biology and Premedical Studies Major
Advisor(s): Katia Del Rio-Tsonis, Department of Biology
Sophia Ratvasky, Department of Biology
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