Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Regenerating complex tissues requires coordination between local cellular responses and body-wide systemic signals. As a central endocrine regulator, the pituitary is well positioned to coordinate this process. Here, we identify the pituitary as an injury-responsive regulator of axolotl limb and tilapia fin regeneration. Limb loss triggered sustained transcriptional responses in the axolotl pituitary. Single-cell transcriptomics linked pituitary loss to altered gene expression in prolactin- and growth hormone-responsive limb cells. Local disruption of the prolactin receptor impaired digit formation, whereas combined hormone treatment partially restored regeneration in hypophysectomized axolotls. In tilapia, pituitary removal impaired fin regeneration and prolactin-related signaling. Mouse digits differed from axolotls and tilapia in how and when they received pituitary signals during regeneration, suggesting pituitary-dependent regrowth is evolutionarily divergent among highly regenerative vertebrates.
Authors: Noah Lopez, Julia C. Paoli, Duygu Payzin-Dogru, Hani Singer, Tim Froitzheim, Luciana Landívar-Uriona, Antzela Zgouro, Emily de Rezende, Ava R. Moss, S.Y. Celeste Wu, Bradley K. Fox, Reilly S. Merlo, Ryan J.A. Chang, Tyler R. Goodearly, Laurel Shugart, Ashley Juarez, Erica Chen, Anthony E. Striker, Anna Luong, Ryan T. Kim, Miranda X. Thai, Anne T. Harrington, Tia S. Patel, Matthew Chen, Anne S. Golding, Michael J. Raymond, Jessica A. Lehoczky, Andre P. Seale, Jason P. Breves, Jessica L. Whited
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225166807