Visceral regeneration in holothurians

Holothurians, or sea cucumbers, exhibit two processes that have intrigued biologists for decades: autotomy and regeneration. Autotomy includes the loss of body parts by evisceration or fission, and regeneration is the extraordinary process by which the lost organs are replaced. In this article, we r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Microscopy research and technique 2001-12, Vol.55 (6), p.438-451
Main Authors: García-Arrarás, José E., Greenberg, Michael J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
differentiation
digestive system
Digestive System - cytology
Digestive System - injuries
Digestive System - ultrastructure
Digestive System Physiological Phenomena
echinoderm
evisceration
Holothuria
Microscopy, Electron
organogenesis
Regeneration
Sea Cucumbers - physiology
Sea Cucumbers - ultrastructure
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Summary:Holothurians, or sea cucumbers, exhibit two processes that have intrigued biologists for decades: autotomy and regeneration. Autotomy includes the loss of body parts by evisceration or fission, and regeneration is the extraordinary process by which the lost organs are replaced. In this article, we review the literature on evisceration, transection, and visceral regeneration in holothurians and compare these processes in different orders and lower taxa. Focusing mainly on the digestive tube, we analyze regeneration from a cellular perspective, considering especially the origin, migration, and proliferation of the cellular components of the regenerated organ. The data highlight the most interesting aspects of holothurian regeneration and indicate those critical problems requiring new information and new approaches. Microsc. Res. Tech. 55:438–451, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
ISSN:1059-910X
1097-0029
DOI:10.1002/jemt.1189