Abstract(s)
Senescence represents a mechanism to avoid undesired cell
proliferation that plays a role in tumor suppression, wound healing
and embryonic development. In order to gain insight on the evolution
of senescence, we looked at its presence in developing axolotls
(urodele amphibians) and in zebrafish (teleost fish), which are both
anamniotes. Our data indicate that cellular senescence is present in
various developing structures in axolotls (pronephros, olfactory
epithelium of nerve fascicles, lateral organs, gums) and in zebrafish
(epithelium of the yolk sac and in the lower part of the gut).
Senescence was particularly associated with transient structures
(pronephros in axolotls and yolk sac in zebrafish) suggesting that it
may play a role in the elimination of these tissues. Our data supports
the notion that cellular senescence evolved early in vertebrate
evolution to influence embryonic development.