Pomacea canaliculata: development and regeneration of complex eyes.

A systematic molecular and genetic dissection of complex camera-type eye regeneration has been hampered by the paucity of model systems in which to carry out these studies. The freshwater snail Pomacea canaliculata has a number of biological attributes that lend this organism ideally suited for studies in development and regeneration. Chiefly among them are ease of culture and reproduction in captivity with abundant and year-round offspring production, direct development and the ability to regenerate complex organs, such as tentacles and eyes after complete amputation. During embryogenesis, the eyes are developed relatively early; the retina, the lens and the general structure of the eyes are already well formed and similar to the adult eyes prior to hatching. Once amputated, the adult complex camera-type eyes, comprised of cornea, lens, retina and optic nerve, can fully regenerate in a relative short time (1 month) and the de novo regenerating eye shows a complete reconstruction of all the mentioned layers. To advance our studies, we have generated a high-dimensional transcriptome at high temporal resolution of the regenerating P. canaliculata eye. Equivalent work has been done during embryogenesis, providing us with an opportunity to compare embryonic versus regeneration eye ontogeny. Our aim is to determine whether embryonic morphogenetic programs and pathways are reactivated in adult eye regeneration and to identify the stimuli that trigger the reactivation of cell proliferation and morphogenesis of a new complex camera-type eye in adult P. canaliculata.