Mentor/s:
José E. García Arrarás, PhD
Co-Mentor:
N/A
Project Title:
onic modulation of radial nerve cord explants from Holothuria glaberrima
Project Description:
Nervous system regeneration remains one of the major unanswered questions in neuroscience. Holothuria glaberrima, a species of sea cucumber, is an echinoderm notable for its remarkable regenerative capacity, making it a valuable model for studying the regeneration of nervous tissue. Previous studies demonstrated that the radial nerve cords (RNCs) of H. glaberrima can remain morphologically stable in vitro for up to two weeks. In this study, we aimed to extend the viability and structural integrity of isolated RNCs beyond this time frame by modifying the ionic composition of the culture medium, specifically by adjusting sodium (Na⁺) and potassium (K⁺) concentrations. We hypothesized that increasing K⁺ concentration would help preserve nerve activity and maintain neuronal structure and properties over time. To test this, we dissected sea cucumbers and extracted four of their five RNCs. The nerves were enzymatically treated with collagenase for 24 hours to remove surrounding tissues and were subsequently cultured in L-15 medium containing varying ionic concentrations: [1.5 K⁺], [2.5 K⁺], [1.5 Na⁺], and [2.5 Na⁺]. The RNCs were monitored periodically to assess morphological stability, cellular integrity, and onset of regenerative events during culture. Preliminary results indicated that elevated K⁺ levels prolonged delayed the onset of both regeneration and cellular dedifferentiation, suggesting that ionic composition plays a critical role in maintaining RNC stability and modulating regenerative responses. These findings highlight the importance of ionic changes in sustaining neural tissue viability in vitro and provide insight into how extracellular ionic environments influence the regenerative potential of echinoderm nervous tissue. This study advances our understanding of the physiological parameters that affect nervous system regeneration, offering a comparative basis for investigating similar processes in vertebrate systems.