Heliyon, 2020 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03507 · Published: February 25, 2020
Zebrafish can regenerate their spinal cord after injury, unlike humans. Glial cells are important for development, disease, and injury response. This review focuses on how molecular signals control glial bridge formation after spinal cord injury in zebrafish, specifically ependymal cells, radial glia, and astroglia. After spinal cord injury, glial cells proliferate, migrate, and differentiate to form a glial bridge across the lesion site. Glial cell ecology describes the relationship of glial cell types within their surroundings during these conditions. This review explores the roles of Fgf signaling, ctgfa, axon guidance molecules, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling in zebrafish glial cell bridge formation and forebrain development, along with the termination signals that inhibit glial cell bridging once completed.
Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying spinal cord regeneration in zebrafish can aid in developing potential therapies for human spinal cord injuries.
Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of glial cell heterogeneity, glial bridge cell specification, and migration.
Investigating the signals that promote and terminate each phase of glial bridging in both central and peripheral nervous systems could provide insights for regenerative medicine.