| Abstrak/Abstract |
Background: Gekko gecko (Tokek) is one of the commonly found lizards in Indonesia with
regenerative capacity. An unsegmented cartilage tube is formed to replace the axial skeleton in
the regenerating tail. Studying the formation of cartilage tissue in lizard regenerating tail opens
up the possibility to gain information which later can be applied in developing treatments for
degenerative bone/cartilage diseases. BMP3, Col2a1, MGP, and Acan are factors involved in
chondrogenesis but only few studies have been conducted to investigate the roles of these
factors, especially BMP3 and MGP.
Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the expressions of BMP3, Col2a1,
MGP, and Acan at different stages of regenerating tail of G. gecko.
Methods: This observational study was conducted using 20 healthy G. gecko of both sexes with
an average total length of 25.79 + 2.9 cm, divided into 10 groups. All geckoes were subjected to
first autotomy and then were allowed to regenerate tails. Second autotomy were performed to
each group at 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 25, 30 and 35 days post-autotomy (dpa) for sample
collection. Samples were analyzed using Reverse-Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction.
Based on histological observation, the samples were then classified into 12-16 (predicted
mesenchymal condensation period), 18-25 (cartilage proliferation) and 30-35 dpa (cartilage
proliferation and development).
Results: BMP3 and MGP has similar expression patterns while the expression of Col2a1
resembles that of Acan. BMP3 and MGP are always expressed higher in the regenerating tail
than in control (original tail). Lower expressions of both proteins are spotted in 12-16 dpa,
suggesting their insignificant roles during mesenchymal condensation, and followed by higher
expressions in 18-25 and 30-35 dpa where the cartilage tube undergoes proliferation and
development. Col2a1 and Acan are expressed lower than control in 12-16 dpa indicating that
both molecules are not required during mesenchymal condensation, and then upregulated in 18-
25 and 30-35 dpa after the appearance of proliferative chondrocytes.
Conclusions: These results suggest that BMP3, Col2a1, MGP, and Acan are not required during
mesenchymal condensation. Higher expression during cartilage proliferation and development
shows that those molecules have specific significant roles in cartilage formation and
development.
Keywords: BMP3, Col2a1, MGP, Acan, Gekko gecko, regeneration, lizard tail regeneration,
chondrogenesis, cartilage formatio |
