Facts about Axolotl: Extraordinary Regeneration
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A key protein called nAG, secreted by nerve-associated Schwann cells, plays a critical signaling role in triggering axolotl limb regeneration.
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Researchers studying axolotl regeneration have found that a blastema, a mass of dedifferentiated cells, forms at the wound site and orchestrates regrowth of complex structures including bone, muscle, and nerves.
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Axolotls are native exclusively to Lake Xochimilco in Mexico, where habitat destruction and pollution have made them critically endangered in the wild.
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Unlike most vertebrates, axolotls achieve regeneration by dedifferentiating mature cells back into stem-like progenitor cells at the wound site.
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The axolotl can regenerate entire limbs, heart tissue, and even portions of its brain without scarring throughout its adult life.