Signal for muscle regeneration discovered in zebrafish
Published: Monday, Apr 22nd 2024, 15:21
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Zebrafish can regenerate various organs, including muscles. This is triggered by a signal discovered by researchers in Freiburg. This holds potential for medicine, as deep injuries can affect the musculoskeletal system.
In contrast to zebrafish, humans can only regenerate minor muscle injuries. Biologists at the University of Freiburg led by Anna Jazwinska Müller investigated the regeneration of muscles at the base of the tail fin of zebrafish. These fish serve as model organisms for research.
In the laboratory experiment, the team froze the base of the caudal fin on one side for a few seconds, as the university announced on Monday. This led to a deep injury to a whole series of muscles. The exceptionally regenerative zebrafish had repaired the damage after four weeks. To do this, they used stem cells to generate new muscle cells.
In the new muscles, the only difference compared to the previous ones was a less precise arrangement of the muscle fibers. At the molecular level, the research team discovered a signal that is necessary to activate regeneration, the so-called Tor signal (target of rapamycin).
According to the university, deciphering natural regeneration holds promising potential for biology and medicine. Research into zebrafish can lead to a better understanding of how large muscle injuries can be replaced by new muscle cells.
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