Identification of the molecular signatures and functional restoration of the spinal cord of metamorphic axolotl

Previous studies employing the experimental induction of metamorphosis of axolotl by thyroid hormones (THs) administration have suggested a notable conspicuous reduction in the regenerative capacities of the metamorphosed animal. Studying its molecular substrates that are at the core of regeneration mechanisms would be conducive to regenerative medicine, although further validations are required to consider it as a negative control in preclinical research. Here, we report an unexpected observation wherein metamorphic animals were successfully capable of functionally restoring the spinal cord after an experimentally-induced injury. Transcriptomic profiling of the spinal cord injury and laminectomy models were employed at 1- and 7- days post-injury to dissect the molecular signatures of the observed spinal cord regeneration.