Lumbriculus variegatus as a model organism for studying angiogenesis during tissue regeneration (LB696)

Abstract

Lumbriculus variegatus is an aquatic oligochaete that is often used to study epimorphic regeneration following removal of head or tail segments. In this pattern of regeneration, the cut surface forms a blastema in which undifferentiated cells begin to regenerate the lost tissues. L. variegatus fully regenerates lost tail segments within two to three weeks. While several studies have investigated the regeneration of neural networks during epimorphosis in L. variegatus, little is known about its pattern of angiogenesis during regeneration. We used L. variegatus cultures along with light microscopy and image capturing and analysis for daily in vivo documentation of the structural changes that occur during angiogenesis in regenerating tail segments. The transparent cuticle, closed circulatory system and erythrocruorin pigment in the plasma made the living vasculature visible for microscopic analysis. The branching pattern of new vasculature was easily observed. Pulsations of the dorsal blood vessel allowed tracking of blood flow to determine when new vessels became patent. A brief application of the anesthetic Tricaine reduced locomotion and facilitated the capturing of images. We suggest that this organism is a useful model to study the effects of angiogenic stimulators or inhibitors during wound healing and tissue regeneration.Grant Funding Source: Supported by Baker University Faculty Development Fund