Which experiment demonstrated the role of cNeoblasts in regeneration?
Functional proof for clonogenic neoblast pluripotency relied on single-cell rescue of irradiated animals. Planarians exposed to lethal gamma radiation lose all piwi-1 positive dividing cells, cannot regenerate, and die within weeks. Transplantation of single FACS-isolated cNeoblast expressing TSPAN-1 into parenchyma of irradiated host restored proliferative compartment, enabled subsequent amputation to trigger normal bipolar regeneration, and generated labeled descendants in all germ layers. Control grafts of differentiated cells failed. This experiment distinguished cNeoblasts from population heterogeneity, beyond simple fragment cutting or Hydra grafting or Wnt overexpression that modulates polarity but not stem cell potency.
Ref: Wagner, Wang, Reddien, Science 2011: Single cNeoblast rescues irradiated planaria - transplantation proof of pluripotency.