Positional information in the forelimb of the axolotl: properties of the posterior skin. 1983

J M Slack

Two series of experiments were carried out to investigate the properties of the positional information carried by posterior skin of the axolotl forelimb. The skin was assayed by grafting it to the anterior side of a normal limb and then amputating through the graft region. The formation of a double posterior regenerate indicates that the grafted skin carried the posterior coding. In the first series, double posterior limbs were created by grafting posterior half limb rudiments to the flank of tailbud-stage embryos. The animals were reared for several months and then a half cuff of anterior skin, judged in relation to the whole body axes, was assayed by grafting to one of the host limbs. The results show that both sides of the double posterior limb carry the posterior coding and confirm our expectation that the visible anatomy is a good guide to the underlying codings. In the second series animals were prepared by embryonic grafts so that they bore an extra normal limb on the flank. This extra limb was marked by pigmentation and in some cases by triploidy. When the limbs had developed, posterior skin from the extra limb was grafted to the anterior side of a host limb. The host limbs were amputated at intervals ranging from 2 weeks to 1 year after the skin graft. The results show that the posterior coding carried by the graft is stable even in an anterior environment. Studies of the cellular composition of regenerates which had received triploid grafts showed that the graft epidermis was progressively replaced by that of the host. The dermis on the other hand retained triploid cells throughout.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009024 Morphogenesis The development of anatomical structures to create the form of a single- or multi-cell organism. Morphogenesis provides form changes of a part, parts, or the whole organism.
D012038 Regeneration The physiological renewal, repair, or replacement of tissue. Endogenous Regeneration,Regeneration, Endogenous,Regenerations
D005552 Forelimb A front limb of a quadruped. (The Random House College Dictionary, 1980) Forelimbs
D000557 Ambystoma A genus of the Ambystomatidae family. The best known species are the axolotl AMBYSTOMA MEXICANUM and the closely related tiger salamander Ambystoma tigrinum. They may retain gills and remain aquatic without developing all of the adult characteristics. However, under proper changes in the environment they metamorphose. Amblystoma,Ambystoma tigrinum,Tiger Salamander,Amblystomas,Ambystomas,Salamander, Tiger,Salamanders, Tiger,Tiger Salamanders
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012879 Skin Physiological Phenomena The functions of the skin in the human and animal body. It includes the pigmentation of the skin. Skin Physiological Processes,Skin Physiology,Physiology, Skin,Skin Physiological Concepts,Skin Physiological Phenomenon,Skin Physiological Process,Concept, Skin Physiological,Concepts, Skin Physiological,Phenomena, Skin Physiological,Phenomenas, Skin Physiological,Phenomenon, Skin Physiological,Phenomenons, Skin Physiological,Physiological Concept, Skin,Physiological Concepts, Skin,Physiological Phenomena, Skin,Physiological Phenomenas, Skin,Physiological Phenomenon, Skin,Physiological Phenomenons, Skin,Process, Skin Physiological,Processes, Skin Physiological,Skin Physiological Concept,Skin Physiological Phenomenas,Skin Physiological Phenomenons
D013997 Time Factors Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations. Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor
D016038 Skin Transplantation The grafting of skin in humans or animals from one site to another to replace a lost portion of the body surface skin. Dermatoplasty,Grafting, Skin,Transplantation, Skin,Dermatoplasties,Graftings, Skin,Skin Grafting,Skin Graftings,Skin Transplantations,Transplantations, Skin

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