title: Eye regeneration at the molecular age.
abstract: Eye tissues such as the lens and the retina possess remarkable regenerative abilities. In amphibians, a complete lens can be regenerated after lentectomy. The process is a classic example of transdifferentiation of one cell type to another. Likewise, retina can be regenerated, but the strategy used to replace the damaged retina differs, depending on the animal system and the age of the animal. Retina can be regenerated by transdifferentiation or by the use of stem cells. In this review, we present a synthesis on the regenerative capacity of eye tissues in different animals with emphasis on the strategy and the molecules involved. In addition, we stress the place of this field at the molecular age and the importance of the recent technologic advances.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45469, USA. panagrotis.tsonis@notes.udayton.edu
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Del Rio-Tsonis
authors.forename: Panagiotis A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Tsonis
mesh_terms: D000663:Amphibians / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo / Q000502:physiology; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000502:physiology; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000502:physiology; D008322:Mammals / Q000502:physiology; D009799:Ocular Physiological Phenomena; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D012160:Retina / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D012455:Salamandridae / Q000502:physiology; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000502:physiology; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000502:physiology