Abstract
Limb regeneration in amphibians is a representative process of epimorphosis. This type of organ regeneration, in which a mass of undifferentiated cells referred to as the “blastema” proliferate to restore the lost part of the amputated organ, is distinct from morphallaxis as observed, for instance, in Hydra, in which rearrangement of pre-existing cells and tissues mainly contribute to regeneration. In contrast to complete limb regeneration in urodele amphibians, limb regeneration in Xenopus, an anuran amphibian, is restricted. In this review of some aspects regarding adult limb regeneration in Xenopus laevis, we suggest that limb regeneration in adult Xenopus, which is pattern/tissue deficient, also represents epimorphosis.
Highlights
Regenerative ability of appendages in vertebrates varies greatly[1]
After the wound epidermis formation, mesoderm-derived tissues beneath the wound epidermis undergo histolysis triggered by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)[17,18], leading to the important process, dedifferentiation, for generating a population of undifferentiated cells, including proliferative and multipotent mesenchymal cells
Until the process of limb regeneration is completed, the blastema continues to grow distally by active proliferation of blastemal mesenchymal cells. This process requires a close interaction between the mesenchyme and apical epithelial cap (AEC), which is probably mediated by several growth factors[19,20,21,22], including FGFs as in limb bud elongation[14,15,16,23,24]
Summary
Limb regeneration in amphibians is a representative process of epimorphosis. This type of organ regeneration, in which a mass of undifferentiated cells referred to as the “blastema” proliferate to restore the lost part of the amputated organ, is distinct from morphallaxis as observed, for instance, in Hydra, in which rearrangement of pre-existing cells and tissues mainly contribute to regeneration. In contrast to complete limb regeneration in urodele amphibians, limb regeneration in Xenopus, an anuran amphibian, is restricted. In this review of some aspects regarding adult limb regeneration in Xenopus laevis, we suggest that limb regeneration in adult Xenopus, which is pattern/tissue deficient, represents epimorphosis
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
