Characterisation and Regeneration of Diopatra claparedii Nervous System

Abstract

Diopatra claparedii has the potential to serve as an animal model for Neurodegenerative Disease (ND) studies due to its complete nervous system and regenerative ability. However, the characteristics of the nervous system in intact D. claparedii and during the regeneration process are still unknown. In this study, the intact samples were fixed with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining for characterisation. Amputated samples were let to regenerate for 60 days with a 20-day interval before histology assessment. The major findings suggested that the intact D. claparedii’s nervous system is built by an anterior dorsal brain and ventral nerve cord, which is segmentally ganglionated. Histology also revealed that the nervous system of regenerated samples on day 60 differs morphologically in terms of brain size. The presence of the brain and ventral nerve cord validates that D. claparedii’s nervous system resembles the nervous system organisation in humans. Thus, it is potentially suitable for further investigation of neurodegenerative studies.