Physiological topics in annelid regeneration and related processes

ZATTARA, EDUARDO E.; RENNOLDS, COREY W.

Frontiers in Invertebrate Physiology. Volume 3: Annelida and Echinodermata

Apple Academic Press

Lugar: Palm Bay, FL; Año: 2023;

The ability of many species of annelid worms to regeneratelost structures has attracted researchers from many fields for over twocenturies. Since regeneration is considered a post-embryonic developmentalprocess, its study has often been framed within the field of DevelopmentalBiology. Many aspects of regeneration, particularly those dealing with regulation,integration and resource allocation, are however closely linked with topicstraditionally studied by field of Physiology. In this chapter, we provide a basic outline of structure regenerationand related phenomena in Annelida, and offer brief summaries on what iscurrently known about their neurohormonal control, the roles played by inputsfrom the nervous system, and the associated patterns of cell proliferation andmetabolic changes during regeneration; we end by discussing the metabolic andevolutionary costs of repair. Throughout the chapter, it should be made evidentthat development and physiology are tightly interwoven in the process ofannelid regeneration, and only an integrative approach can help us to furtherour understanding of this extraordinary phenomenon.