A documentation of an age related increase in neuronal and axonal numbers in the stingray, Dasyatis sabina, leseuer

The present study documents that in the stingray Dasyatis sabina the numbers of (1) dorsal root ganglion cells, (2) dorsal root axons, (3) ventral root axons and (4) “motor” cells in the ventral horn increase steadily as the animals increase in size. This increase in axonal and neuronal numbers persists much further into adult life than is the case for other vertebrates that have been studied from this point of view. We hypothesize this steady increase in axonal numbers may be related to the ability of fish to regenerate parts of their central and/or peripheral nervous systems.