www.sciencejournal.in Volume- 5 Issue- 1 (2016) ISSN: 2319–4731 (p); 2319–5037 (e) © 2016 DAMA International. All rights reserved. 273 EFFECT OF GLUCOSE ON TAIL FIN REGENERATION IN GAMBUSIA AFFINIS Seema Borgave* @ , Neelam Ghule* and Komal Naikwadi* Department of Zoology, S.N. Arts, D.J.M. Commerce and B.N.S. Science College, Sangamner 422605, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India @ (Corresponding author :Email ID: seemaborgave@gmail.com) ABSTRACT Regeneration is a unique biological phenomenon wherein the organism can reform the lost parts of its body. A variety of growth and differentiation inducing molecules play crucial roles during these reformation events. Glucose is used by animals as a major source of energy for all biological processes. Even though glucose is inevitable for this reason, it should be present within its optimum levels only. When these levels are disturbed, it may lead physiological pathologies like either increased glucose i.e. hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia i.e. low glucose situations. In both the cases, animals suffer from various health problems. Since regeneration demands huge amount of energy and glucose serves as one of the major sources for energy, the present study aimed at elucidation of effects of altered levels of glucose on regeneration process. To study this, Gambusia affinis was selected as a model system for its tremendous regeneration capacity and its use as a favorite vertebrate model system for regeneration studies. In the present study an important role of glucose in the tail fin regeneration of Gambusia affinis is demonstrated. KEYWORDS: Gambusia affinis, glucose, amputation, regeneration, tail fin INTRODUCTION Regeneration is a process of renewal, restoration and growth of damaged part of any living organism. Every animal species has regeneration capacity to various intensities depending on the organ that is lost. Regeneration can either be complete where the new tissue is the more or less same as the lost tissue or incomplete where the regenerating tissue undergoes necrosis leading to tissue fibrosis (Li et al., 2012). Complete regeneration is essential to restore the integrity and function of the injured organ. During this process, immune cells play important roles for supporting the re-growth of the damaged tissue (Gilbert, 2006; Li et al., 2012). Gambusia affinis, commonly known as mosquito-fish, has been effectively used as a model organism for regeneration studies due to its regeneration ability. Gambusia, mostly found in freshwater, is benthic non-migratory fish that is mostly found in standing or slow flowing waters (McDowall, 2000; Pyke, 2005). Gambusia affinis has streamlined body that reaches maximum length of about 6-7 cm in case of female fish while males may reach around 4cm. Dorsal and caudal fins are rounded with almost invisible lateral line. Body is usually greenish olive to brown above, grey- blue on the sides and slivery-white from ventral side. Small black dots are present on the body and tail. The species is sexually dimorphic with adult males smaller than females. The maximum age reported for this species is 3 years (McDowall, 1990). In Gambusia affinis, epimorphic regeneration is observed. In epimorphic regeneration, the tissue near the lost or amputated region undergoes dedifferentiation to form undifferentiated cell mass that later becomes specified into the lost part (Gilbert, 2006). Gambusia can very well regenerate its lost or damaged parts like brain, eye, kidney, heart and fins. After amputation stem cells accumulate at the injury site in a structure called the blastema. Fish mostly use glucose as a major source of energy. Glucose molecules are broken down within cells in order to produce ATP molecules; energy – rich molecules, which power numerous cellular processes. Elevated or reduced glucose levels lead to various physiological complications in animals (Olson et al, 2010; Fahmy et al., 2013). Glucose is thought to increase oxidative stress which is likely to hamper the regeneration process as well. In the present study, the possible effects of glucose on regeneration process are tested using Gambusia affinis as a model system. Regenerating tail fins; after surgical amputation of tail fins; in presence or absence of various doses of glucose was monitored for different time periods. This study clearly demonstrates a crucial role of glucose, at its optimum levels, in the regeneration process.