Using Axolotl Tail Regeneration to Analyze Age Effects in Homeostasis and Microglial Characteristics

Jamie Casseus

OAI: oai:digitalcommons.ursinus.edu:biology_sum-1094

Axolotls, as amphibians, have the ability to regenerate lost tissue. With this knowledge, we are going to be amputating a piece of the tail from axolotls to observe the microglial cells within each sample. Microglial cells aid in the process that leads to regeneration by cleaning up debris (dead cells, etc.) to help the regeneration process occur. We are observing whether the microglial response is quicker within the adult axolotls or the juvenile axolotls that we work with. To determine this, under a compound microscope, we will be counting the amount of microglia in each sample as well as the number of them activated in each sample.

tomato lectin Microglia Regeneration Biology Life Sciences