The number of axolotls in Mexico City is alarmingly decreasing, and specialists warn that they are likely to disappear from the canals of Xochimilco, where they used to inhabit in large numbers for decades.
According to experts from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), it is estimated that by the year 2025, axolotls will completely disappear from the canals of Xochimilco, located to the south of the Mexican capital. The situation has worsened considerably, considering that in 1998 there were around 6,000 axolotls in the area, while by 2013 there were barely 36 specimens left.
Water pollution and rising temperatures, associated with global warming, are some of the main threats facing axolotls in the Xochimilco canals. The introduction of invasive species such as tilapia and carp for human consumption also directly impacts the axolotl population.
In response to this crisis, UNAM has been researching methods for the preservation of this endemic species of the Valley of Mexico. One possible solution is the regeneration of the reproductive organs of axolotls to increase their genetic variability, which could contribute to their long-term survival.
The ability of axolotls to regenerate various parts of their bodies is well known, such as the heart, liver, and limbs; however, it is still unknown whether they can regenerate their reproductive system. Researcher Tania J. Porras Gómez from the UNAM Biomedical Research Institute has highlighted the importance of studying the cells of these animals to generate sperm with genetic information that favors the preservation of the species and its genetic variability.
On the other hand, the possibility of exploring the regeneration of the ovaries or testes of axolotls could not only benefit the conservation of the species but also have potential applications in medicine to help people with fertility problems. This multidisciplinary approach seeks to collaborate with other countries interested in axolotl preservation and establish more solid research lines in the future.
