Implant-induced accessory limbs in urodeles: fresh, frozen, and boiled tissues.

Abstract

AbstractImplants were made into forelimbs of Triturus viridescens using fresh, frozen and boiled kidney and liver of T. viridescens and R. pipiens. Limbs were recovered at intervals up to 70 days post‐implantation.Kidney implants from Wisconsin R. pipiens gave twice as many extensive accessory structures as did Vermont frog kidney. Total induction percentages, however, were similar.Quantitative and qualitative parameters for implant‐induction of accessory structures were investigated. The decrease in antigenicity and increased rate of cytolysis of frozen implants resulted in increased similarity between frog and newt kidney in rate and pattern of breakdown and in rates of induction. Modification of rate and duration of the release of the stimulating factor from the implant did not result in induction by liver implants.No evidence was found for any increase in innervation prior to or coincident with blastema formation. Implantation and implant cytolysis may cause hypersensitivity of limb tissues to the normal innervation pattern or trophic stimuli from the implant may act with those from the injured limb tissues to produce growth.The general pattern of host reaction to the implanted material was studied and described.