title: Tail regeneration affects the digestive performance of a Mediterranean lizard.
abstract: In caudal autotomy, lizards shed their tail to escape from an attacking predator. Since the tail serves multiple functions, caudal regeneration is of pivotal importance. However, it is a demanding procedure that requires substantial energy and nutrients. Therefore, lizards have to increase energy income to fuel the extraordinary requirements of the regenerating tail. We presumed that autotomized lizards would adjust their digestion to acquire this additional energy. To clarify the effects of tail regeneration on digestion, we compared the digestive performance before autotomy, during regeneration, and after its completion. Tail regeneration indeed increased gut passage time but did not affect digestive performance in a uniform pattern: though protein income was maximized, lipid and sugar acquisition remained stable. This divergence in proteins may be attributed to their particular role in tail reconstruction, as they are the main building blocks for tissue formation.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK. k.sagonas@qmul.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sagonas
authors.affiliation: Department of Human and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis Zografou, 15784, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Niki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karambotsi
authors.affiliation: Department of Human and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis Zografou, 15784, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Aristoula
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bletsa
authors.affiliation: Department of Human and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis Zografou, 15784, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Aikaterini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reppa
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis Zografou, 15784, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Panayiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pafilis
authors.affiliation: Department of Human and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis Zografou, 15784, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Efstratios D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Valakos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004063:Digestion / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D008116:Lizards / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012038:Regeneration; D013623:Tail / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Caudal autotomy; Digestion; Reptiles; Tail regeneration