Michigan State University researchers have developed a powerful new research tool that allows them to remove gut neurons in zebrafish and watch them regenerate in real time, helping scientists investigate one of regenerative biology’s biggest questions.
Using the new system, Julia Ganz and her team selectively removed gut neurons in larval zebrafish and watched new neurons regenerate and reconnect with existing neural networks in about nine days.
“The neurons don’t just come back,” Ganz said. “They integrate into the existing nervous system and appear to resume the jobs they were performing before.”
The findings showed that the regenerated neurons not only replaced lost cells but also restored the neural connections needed for normal gut function.