The significance of post-irradiation growth in regenerating limb and tail blastemas ofAmblystoma larvae

✍ Scribed by Pietsch, Paul ;Bruce, A. K.

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1965
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 534 KB
• Volume: 66
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0095-9898
• DOI: 10.1002/jcp.1030660211

✦ Synopsis

Regenerative growth was studied in limbs and tails exposed to x-radiation. Significant increases in size were observed following irradiation. Growth eventually ceased in irradiated regenerates and involution set in progressively to claim most of the tissue distal to the amputation plane. This growth was accomplished in spite of severe curtailment of DNA synthesis. On a relative basis the amount of growth was independent of the post-amputation age of the regenerate at time of exposure to x-rays. Growth following irradiation showed some dose dependency, but this did not become manifested until after an appreciable time-lag.

It was concluded that at any given moment in the history of the salamander limb or tail there are sufficient numbers of cells capable of forming a blastema without their first having to pass though a phase of high radio-sensitivity and that these cells are sufficient to account for the aggregation or enlargement of a blastema, independently of normal proliferation.