Cell Transplantation as a Method to Investigate Spinal Cord Regeneration in Regenerative and Nonregenerative Xenopus Stages

Abstract

Mammals are not capable of regenerating their central nervous system (CNS); anamniotes, however, can regenerate in response to injury. The mechanisms that explain the different regenerative capabilities include: (i) extrinsic mechanisms that consider the cellular environment and extracellular matrix composition, (ii) intrinsic factors implicating the presence or absence of genetic programs that promote axon regeneration, and (iii) the presence or absence of neural stem and progenitors cells (NSPCs) that allow neurogenesis. Xenopus laevis is able to regenerate its CNS during larval stages (i.e., the regenerative stage [R-stage]). However, concomitant with metamorphosis this capacity decreases and is lost completely in juvenile froglets (i.e., nonregenerative stages [NR-stages]). The loss of the regenerative ability correlates with a reduction in the percentage of Sox2⁺ cells, which are putative NSPCs. This protocol shows the effect of transplantation of spinal cord cells from R-stage Xenopus larvae into NR-stage froglets. Using this procedure, it is possible to study axon regeneration and stem cell biology in vivo.