Scientists have explained the mechanism of regeneration of tails in lizards
Canadian scientists that recognizes the type of stem cells that help geckos can grow a new tail, hope the discovery will help them in the treatment of the spinal cord in humans.
A lizard can drop tail to flee from a predator, and then restore the lost part. Thus in contrast to mammals, in the tail of lizards is the spinal cord containing large amounts of stem cells and support their growth proteins.
Scientists from Golfscope University, Canada drew special attention to the geckos, which can recover a new tail for 30 days, which is much faster than any other type of lizard. Simulating the behavior of predators, the biologists in the lab pinched the tail of the Gecko and explored the changes that have occurred at the cellular level before and after discarding of the tail.
As a result, the experts found that the spinal cord of Gecko contains a special type of stem cells known as radial glia.
Usually these cells are inactive, but after the loss of the tail, they change their behavior — to form different proteins and begin to proliferate in response to injury. In the end, it is these cells create new bone marrow. As soon as the wound heals and the spinal cord is restored, the cells return to the resting state.
As told to the author of the study Matthew Vicarius people in contrast to the lizards react to damage to the spinal cord scar formation, and not the creation of new tissue. It promotes rapid healing, but makes regeneration impossible.