# Regulation of Eye Regrowth in Xenopus laevmis

> **NIH NIH R16** · UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA LAS VEGAS · 2024 · $186,875

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 A main challenge in the regeneration field has been to identify the signaling pathways and suitable
cell types needed to enable productive tissue repair. For the eye, the successful generation and
maintenance of eye-specific stem cells is a key goal. Although the process of vertebrate eye development is
well-studied and characterized, the mechanisms that can induce eye stem cell proliferation following injury
or disease remain difficult to identify. This is partly because natural stem cell proliferation typically occurs
during embryo development whereas studies of retinal regeneration have largely utilized adult (or mature)
models – a very different environment. The highly regenerative clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, is an
established model for both development and organ regeneration. It is also closely related to humans. We
found that Xenopus embryos successfully regrew functional eyes within 5 days. Our studies also showed
that successful eye regrowth required increased and extended retinal stem cell proliferation while delaying
new eye formation. One candidate pathway to regulate eye regrowth is bioelectrical signaling. Bioelectrical
signaling is well-characterized for its role in limb regeneration but its role in eye development and regrowth
is unclear. Our data showed that inhibition of bioelectrical signaling blocked eye regrowth, indicating that its
function is required. We seek to understand and define the roles of bioelectrical signaling during eye
regrowth, as a first step towards establishing a protocol for effectively dissecting the similarities and
distinctions between development and repair. This project will: 1) define the expression patterns and key
function of bioelectrical signaling components during eye regrowth and development; 2) assess the role of
bioelectrical signaling in activating regenerative retinal progenitor cell proliferation and expansion, and 3)
identify potential downstream targets. Together, this proposal will leverage the unique biology of Xenopus to
establish an efficient strategy to rapidly define key mechanisms that regulate regrowth-induced retinal
progenitor cell proliferation in vivo. This protocol will set the foundation for eventually building a blueprint for
productive eye repair strategies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10880668
- **Project number:** 5R16GM146672-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA LAS VEGAS
- **Principal Investigator:** Kelly Tseng
- **Activity code:** R16 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $186,875
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-07-15 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10880668

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10880668, Regulation of Eye Regrowth in Xenopus laevmis (5R16GM146672-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10880668. Licensed CC0.

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