title: Do you have the nerves to regenerate? The importance of neural signalling in the regeneration process.
abstract: The importance of nerve-derived signalling for correct regeneration has been the topic of research for more than a hundred years, but we are just beginning to identify the underlying molecular pathways of this process. Within the current review, we attempt to provide an extensive overview of the neural influences during early and late phases of both vertebrate and invertebrate regeneration. In general, denervation impairs limb regeneration, but the presence of nerves is not essential for the regeneration of aneurogenic extremities. This observation led to the "neurotrophic factor(s) hypothesis", which states that certain trophic factors produced by the nerves are necessary for proper regeneration. Possible neuron-derived factors which regulate regeneration as well as the denervation-affected processes are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Zoology: Biodiversity and Toxicology, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, Building D, BE 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nicky
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pirotte
authors.affiliation: Zoology: Biodiversity and Toxicology, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, Building D, BE 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leynen
authors.affiliation: Zoology: Biodiversity and Toxicology, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, Building D, BE 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Artois
authors.affiliation: Zoology: Biodiversity and Toxicology, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, Building D, BE 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium. Electronic address: karen.smeets@uhasselt.be.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smeets
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species
keywords: Invertebrates; Nerves; Neural signalling; Regeneration; Vertebrates