Telencephalon: Encyclopedia II - Telencephalon - Cell regeneration

Telencephalon - Cell regeneration

Telencephalon - Xenopus laevis

In a study of the telencephalon conducted in Hokkaido University on African clawed frogs (xenopus laevis)^[2], it was discovered that during larval stages the telencephalon was able to regenerate around half of the anterior portion (otherwise known as partially truncated), after a reconstruction of a would-be accident, or malformation of features.

The actual regeneration and active proliferation of cells within the clawed frog is quite remarkable; regenerated cells being almost functionally identical to the ones originally found in the brain after birth despite the obvious lack of brain matter for a sustained period of time.

This kind of regeneration is completely dependant upon ependymal layer cells covering the cerebral lateral ventricles, within a short period before, or within the initial stage of wound healing. This is observed within the stages of healing within larvae of the clawed frog.

Unfortunately the regeneration within the developed stage of the clawed frog is completely different than within the larval stage. Because the cells adhere to one another they are unable to form an entity which is able to cover the cerebral lateral ventricles. Thus the telencephalon remains truncated and the loss of function becomes permanent.

After removing over half of the telencephalon in the developed stage of the clawed frog, the lack of functions within the animal was apparent, manifesting with obvious difficulties in movement, nonverbal communication between other species, as well as other difficulties thought to be similar to those seen in humans.

This kind of regeneration is still relatively unknown in regard to regeneration within larval stages, similar to the human fetal stage.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Cell regeneration", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki