Tolerance, limb regeneration and collagen fibrogenesis under high oxygen concentrations by the adult newt, Diemictylus viridescens.

Abstract

AbstractAdult newts placed in an atmospheric environment of 85% oxygen, saturated humidity, and at a temperature of 20 ± 1°C survived particularly well a 44‐day test period. They did not succumb to “oxygen toxicity” as has been frequently reported for other vertebrate species.Having established the newt's tolerance of high oxygen atmosphere, the effect of oxygen on growth and development in the regenerating newt limb was investigated. Under the atmospheric conditions described above, and under 92% oxygen, the regeneration of adult newt limbs appeared to be retarded during the first 25 days after amputation when compared with regenerating limbs of control animals kept under a normal atmosphere of 21% oxygen (air). Thereafter, little or no difference could be discerned between the regeneration of experimental and control limbs.It is known that molecular oxygen participates directly in the hydroxylation of proline to hydroxyproline in the synthesis of collagen. Sectioned regenerates stained specifically for collagen were examined to determine if collagen synthesis was induced in experimental animals. Two regeneration‐inhibited limbs of oxygenated newts showed cicatrical repair of the apical limb stump 25 days after amputation. However, the majority of the experimental animals revealed no obvious increase in collagen fibers.These results contraindicate any marked “oxygen toxicity” affecting the life of the newts, or regeneration of their limbs. It is suggested that a change in collagen fiber type might have been induced by the high‐oxygen atmosphere. Investigations to test this hypothesis are currently underway.