Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 10, 2026
Adult Zebrafish Injury Models to Study the Effects of Prednisolone in Regenerating Bone Tissue
Published on: October 18, 2018
Collagen-affecting drugs impair regeneration of teleost tail fins
I J Bechara1, P P Joazeiro, M Marí-Beffa
1Department of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Biology, UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Abstract:
Regenerating tail fins were studied in two species of teleosts, Tilapia rendalli and Cyprinus carpio, treated with indomethacin, aspirin, dexamethasone, penicillamine, and beta-aminoproprionitrile, drugs known to disrupt collagen metabolism in mammals. Collagen was studied under the light microscope by the Picrosirius-polarization method and also under the electron microscope. In general, these drugs disturbed the deposition and organization of collagen fibrils leading to abnormally thin or practically absent lepidotrichia and actinotrichia, and also to disorganized fibrous connective tissue. The resulting disorganization of the collagenous scaffolding of the regenerating dermoskeleton was probably responsible for a secondary effect on blastema distalization and on the general fin ray patterning that were also observed. The foregoing observations suggest that the stromal histoarchitecture of the regenerate plays a vital role in fin regeneration and indicate that these drugs may be useful in studying the extracellular matrix-cell interactions at the cellular and molecular level. In addition, the present findings provide a basis for developing different biological models by using teleost fin regeneration.
Insights
Drugs disrupting collagen metabolism impaired teleost fin regeneration by affecting collagen organization. This highlights the crucial role of the extracellular matrix in fin ray patterning and blastema development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Histology
Background:
- Teleost fin regeneration is a complex process involving intricate cellular and molecular mechanisms.
- Collagen, a key extracellular matrix component, is essential for tissue structure and development.
- Understanding the role of collagen metabolism in regeneration can provide insights into developmental processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of drugs known to disrupt collagen metabolism on teleost fin regeneration.
- To examine the impact of these drugs on collagen deposition and organization within regenerating fin structures.
- To explore the consequences of altered collagen organization on fin ray patterning and blastema development.
Main Methods:
- Regeneration of tail fins in two teleost species, Tilapia rendalli and Cyprinus carpio.
- Treatment with drugs affecting collagen metabolism: indomethacin, aspirin, dexamethasone, penicillamine, and beta-aminoproprionitrile.
- Microscopic analysis of collagen organization using light microscopy (Picrosirius-polarization) and electron microscopy.
Main Results:
- Drugs significantly disturbed collagen fibril deposition and organization in regenerating fins.
- Abnormally thin or absent lepidotrichia and actinotrichia were observed.
- Disorganized fibrous connective tissue and secondary effects on blastema distalization and fin ray patterning were noted.
Conclusions:
- The stromal histoarchitecture of the regenerate plays a vital role in fin regeneration.
- The studied drugs can be valuable tools for investigating extracellular matrix-cell interactions.
- Teleost fin regeneration offers a versatile model for biological studies, including extracellular matrix research.
