Frogs, unlike salamanders, crustaceans and various types of lizards, for example, cannot re-grow amputated limbs. However, according to a recent study published by Tufts and Harvard Universities
in
Massachusetts, a
new experimental treatment has given existing medical frogs the ability to grow amputated hind legs.
Treatment included the use of a silicone sleeve that contained a mixture of five chemicals, to which the amputated frogs were exposed for 24 hours.
Then began an 18-month process, in which the missing leg began to grow, as can be seen in the chart.
The process of limb growth, Photo: NJ Murugan et al., 2022 / Science Advances
"It's very exciting to see that the drugs we chose to use helped create a new and almost perfect limb," said Nirosha Morogen, a researcher at Tufts University who published the results of the study.
"The fact that the frog needed only brief exposure to the substances to begin the regeneration process suggests that frogs, and possibly other animals, carry dormant regenerative abilities that may be stimulated," the scientist added.
Obviously, the same method will not work on mammals, including humans.
However, the encouraging results of the new study may help in more advanced studies, which may, one day, also allow human limbs to regenerate.
"'Convince' existing cells"
"People have been testing the rejuvenating abilities of salamanders for a long time," added Michael Levine, a research partner at Morgan, which has been in the field for more than two decades.
"Our method is different from the others: instead of focusing on genetic engineering and stem cell transplants, we try to 'convince' existing cells to start re-growing, as they did during the animal's embryo period."
And what about the ethical side?
After all, amputating the legs of dozens of frogs can be very controversial.
Well, Levin claims the study was conducted in full coordination with a team of veterinarians and marine animal specialists, and that anesthetics were used "to reduce the pain," according to the researcher.
"Respect for animals is a very important value for us," he concluded.
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