Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “REGENERATION”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 739 records · Page 41Linked to original sources

Robust regeneration of CNS axons through a track depleted of CNS glia.

Transected CNS axons do not regenerate spontaneously but may do so if given an appropriate environment through which to grow. Since molecules associated with CNS macroglia are thought to be inhibitory to axon regeneration, we have tested the hypothesis that removing these cell types from an area of brain will leave an environment more permissive for axon regeneration. Adult rats received unilateral knife cuts of the nigrostriatal tract and ethidium bromide (EB) was used to create a lesion devoid of astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, intact myelin sheaths, and NG2 immunoreactive cells from the site of the knife cut to the ipsilateral striatum (a distance of 6 mm). The regenerative response and the EB lesion environment was examined with immunostaining and electron microscopy at different timepoints following surgery. We report that large numbers of dopaminergic nigral axons regenerated for over 4 mm through EB lesions. At 4 days postlesion dopaminergic sprouting was maximal and the axon growth front had reached the striatum, but there was no additional growth into the striatum after 7 days. Regenerating axons did not leave the EB lesion to form terminals in the striatum, there was no recovery of function, and the end of axon growth correlated with increasing glial immunoreactivity around the EB lesion. We conclude that the removal of CNS glia promotes robust axon regeneration but that this becomes limited by the reappearance of nonpermissive CNS glia. These results suggest, first, that control of the glial reaction is likely to be an important feature in brain repair and, second, that reports of axon regeneration must be interpreted with caution since extensive regeneration can occur simply as a result of a major glia-depleting lesion, rather than as the result of some other specific intervention.

Animals↗

Overexpression of GAP-43 in thalamic projection neurons of transgenic mice does not enable them to regenerate axons through peripheral nerve grafts.

It is well established that some populations of neurons of the adult rat central nervous system (CNS) will regenerate axons into a peripheral nerve implant, but others, including most thalamocortical projection neurons, will not. The ability to regenerate axons may depend on whether neurons can express growth-related genes such as GAP-43, whose expression correlates with axon growth during development and with competence to regenerate. Thalamic projection neurons which fail to regenerate into a graft also fail to upregulate GAP-43. We have tested the hypothesis that the absence of strong GAP-43 expression by the thalamic projection neurons prevents them from regenerating their axons, using transgenic mice which overexpress GAP-43. Transgene expression was mapped by in situ hybridization with a digoxigenin-labeled RNA probe and by immunohistochemistry with a monoclonal antibody against the GAP-43 protein produced by the transgene. Many CNS neurons were found to express the mRNA and protein, including neurons of the mediodorsal and ventromedial thalamic nuclei, which rarely regenerate axons into peripheral nerve grafts. Grafts were implanted into the region of these nuclei in the brains of transgenic animals. Although these neurons strongly expressed the transgene mRNA and protein and transported the protein to their axon terminals, they did not regenerate axons into the graft, suggesting that lack of GAP-43 expression is not the only factor preventing thalamocortical neurons regenerating their axons.

Animals↗

Sorting of regenerating rat sciatic nerve fibers with target-derived molecules.

The functional outcome of microsurgical repair of divided nerves is disappointing since many regenerating axons fail to reach appropriate targets. Sorting of regenerating axons according to target tissue might be used to improve functional regeneration. The aim of the present study is to see if regenerating axons can be sorted into functionally different bundles with target-derived molecules. The proximal stump of the adult rat sciatic nerve was sutured into the inlet of a silicon Y-tube. The two branches of the Y-tube were filled with agarose primed with filtrates prepared from skin and muscle homogenates from the operated rat. The tibial and sural nerves were inserted in the two branches of the Y-tube. Six weeks later the sciatic nerve axons showed vigorous regeneration into both branches. Electron microscopic examination of regenerated nerve segments showed numerous myelinated and unmyelinated axons. The proportion of myelinated axons was significantly larger in the muscle-gel branch than in the skin-gel branch. Retrograde tracing from the nerve regenerates with Fast Blue and Fluoro-Ruby showed that ventral horn neurons at L4-L5 segmental levels were preferentially labeled from the muscle-gel branch. Neurons in corresponding dorsal root ganglia were labeled from both Y-tube branches (no significant numerical difference). A few neurons of both types contained both tracers. Measurements revealed that sensory neurons labeled from the muscle-gel branch were significantly larger (mean perikaryal area 870 microm(2)) than neurons labeled from the skin-gel branch (mean area 580 microm(2)). We conclude that regenerating motor and sensory axons can be sorted with target-derived molecules.

Animals↗

Liver regeneration in children after major hepatectomy for malignancy--evaluation using a computer-aided technique of volume measurement.

PURPOSE: The time course of hepatic volume regeneration and return of excretory and synthetic function was studied in eight children undergoing lobar or extended lobar liver resections for hepatoblastoma (n = 5), hepatoma (n = 1), and recurrent nephroblastoma (n = 2). Five patients received preoperative and all were administered postoperative chemotherapy. Whole-liver irradiation was administered to one patient. One additional patient who underwent an extended hepatic resection for benign disease and did not receive chemotherapy was included for comparison. METHODS: A previously validated technique of computer-aided volume measurement was used to measure liver volumes from serial CT scans obtained after hepatic surgery. Normal liver volume as a function of age was determined from the literature and the time course of regeneration was compared to normal liver growth. Postoperative serum albumin, total bilirubin, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase levels were recorded and correlated with volume regeneration. RESULTS: In six patients hepatic regeneration had progressed to normal volume by 90 days after resection (normal volume for age was achieved by 50 days in three patients). There was an initial rapid rate of regeneration (> 10 cc/day) which declined to a normal rate of less than 0.5 cc/day at 90 days after surgery. Two children with failure to thrive displayed the same pattern of rapid regeneration, attaining a volume appropriate for weight but less than that expected for age. The shape of the liver volume regeneration curve was similar in one additional patient undergoing an extended left lobectomy for benign disease. A brief rise in bilirubin occurred during the first week and a transient fall in serum albumin was followed by resumption of normal synthetic capacity within 6 weeks in all but two patients. CONCLUSIONS: Liver regeneration in children is a rapid process occurring despite the administration of cytotoxic agents and hepatic irradiation.

Child↗

Regeneration of the cerebellofugal projection after transection of the superior cerebellar peduncle in the cat.

In contrast to the current concept of abortive regeneration of mammalian central axons, the occurrence of marked, functionally active, regeneration of the cerebellofugal projection was proved in the cat after complete transection of the decussation of the brachium conjunctivum (BCX). Because the BCX is a complete crossing it was transected completely by pushing down an edged U-shaped wire to the base of the brain stem in the midline, and the wire was left in situ to mark the lesion. Later, horseradish peroxidase was injected into the cerebellar lateral and interpositus nuclei to label the cerebellofugal projection arising from these nuclei; axonal regeneration was proved by demonstration of labelled fibres passing through the area enclosed by the U-shaped wire. By this procedure the origin, course, and destination of the regenerated fibres were identified unambiguously. Most of the regenerated axons took a course similar to that of the normal projection and terminated in the normal projection areas, whereas a small proportion of fibres showed an aberrant course and termination. Functional connectivity of the regenerated cerebellothalamic projection was tested electrophysiologically in the same animals examined morphologically. In all animals in which marked axonal regeneration occurred, cerebellocerebral responses, as in intact animals, were evoked in the frontal motor and parietal associated cortices. Study of the time-course of regeneration revealed that the cut ends of axons began to swell as early as 15 min after transection, produced terminals tipped by growth cones in 14-24 hours, grew to cross the lesion in 3 days, and distributed dense terminals in the thalamus by 19 days.

Animals↗

A comparison of the morphology of denervated with aneurally regenerated soleus muscle of rat.

Soleus muscles of rats were denervated, treated with bupivacaine and autografted in order to induce aneural regeneration or only denervated. After 2-70 days, muscles were fixed and embedded in epoxy resin for light and electron microscopy. Regenerating muscles after 2 and 5 days consisted of a necrotic core and a rim of new fibres; the necrotic core had disappeared by day 10. The fibre size (mean cross-sectional area) was 139 microns2 after 10 days; it decreased to 22 microns2 after 70 days. Denervated muscle fibres measured 26 microns2 after 70 days. The sarcomere pattern was regular in 10-day regenerates but later degenerated. There were signs of fibre breakdown; immature regenerating fibres were still found after 70 days. Denervated muscles already contained a few new myotubes at 10 days; at 40 and 70 days fibre loss and regeneration were distinct. The percentage of satellite cells relative to myonuclei (normal 8%) doubled within the first 10 days after necrosis and then fell to less than one fourth of normal. Denervation for 70 days increased threefold the percentage of satellite cells in some muscles and in others caused a decrease to half of normal. The number of fibre cross-sections in regenerated muscles was about 3000 after 10-70 days; this was roughly the same number as in normal soleus muscles. The true number of fibres, however, may have been smaller because regenerated fibres tend to branch. It is concluded that aneurally regenerating muscle fibres reach a high degree of structural differentiation, but then atrophy, degenerate and vanish; they are replaced by new fibres, which do not reach the size of the first fibres, presumably because the satellite cell pool without innervation eventually becomes exhausted. The slow and non-synchronized breakdown of denervated soleus muscle fibres induces proliferation of satellite cells as in necrotized muscles; those muscles which had fewer satellite cells than normal after 70 days might already be showing exhaustion.

Animals↗

Morphology of regenerated spinal cord in Sternarchus albifrons.

The tail of the gymnotid Sternarchus albifrons, including the spinal cord, regenerates following amputation. Regenerated spinal cord shows a rostro-caudal gradient of differentiation. Cross sections of the most distal regenerated cord show radially enlarged ependymal cells, relatively undifferentiated cells, and numerous blood vessels. More anterior sections contain well differentiated electromotor neurons, glial cells, and myelinated axons. The number of electromotor-neuron cell bodies in cross sections of regenerated spinal cord is three to six times the number in nonregenerated cord. Distinct tracts of axons, easily identifiable in normal cord, are not distinguishable in cross sections of regenerated cord. Some reorganization of the spinal cord also appears to take place anterior to the site of transection. Individual electromotor neurons in the regenerated spinal cord have morphologies largely similar to those of normal electrocytes, i.e., cell bodies are rounded, lack dendrites, have synapses characterized by gap junctions with presynaptic axons, and lack an unmyelinated initial segment. The presence of electromotor neurons with normal morphology in regenerated spinal cord correlates with the re-establishment of relatively normal electrocyte axon-Schwann cell relationships in the regenerating electric organ of this sternarchid.

Animals↗

Expression of reg protein in rat regenerating islets and its co-localization with insulin in the beta cell secretory granules.

Regenerating islets can be induced by the administration of poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase inhibitors to 90% depancreatized rats. In screening a regenerating islet-derived cDNA library, we previously isolated a novel gene. reg (regenerating gene), which encodes a 165-amino acid protein with a 21-amino acid signal sequence. In the present study, we have examined the expression and localization of reg protein in the regenerating islets by immunocytochemical techniques using a monoclonal antibody against a recombinant rat reg protein of 144 amino acids without the signal sequence. Light microscopy examination showed strong immunoreactivity for reg protein in the regenerating islets of the rats at two weeks and two months after 90% pancreatectomy, whereas reg protein was almost undetectable in normal rat islets or in the islets of the rats one year after the pancreatectomy. Almost all the reg protein-positive cells were stained for insulin. By applying the immunogold technique at the ultrastructural level, it was demonstrated that both reg protein and insulin occur in the central granular core of the regenerating Beta cell secretory granules. These results suggest that reg protein is synthesized in and secreted from the regenerating Beta cells and that its expression is closely associated with Beta-cell regeneration.

Animals↗

Influence of peripheral nerve grafts on the expression of GAP-43 in regenerating retinal ganglion cells in adult hamsters.

We have examined the ability of axotomized retinal ganglion cells in adult hamsters, to regenerate axons into a peripheral nerve graft attached to the optic nerve and the expression of GAP-43 by these neurons. We also examined the effect on these events of transplanting a segment of peripheral nerve to the vitreous body. The left optic nerves in three groups of hamsters were replaced with a long segment of peripheral nerve attached to the proximal stump of the optic nerve approximately 2 mm from the optic disc to induce regeneration of retinal ganglion cells into the peripheral nerve. An additional segment of peripheral nerve was transplanted into the vitreous of the left eye in the second group. The animals from the first and second groups were allowed to survive for 1-8 weeks and the number of regenerating retinal ganglion cells was determined by applying the retrograde tracer, Fluoro-Gold to the peripheral nerve graft and the expression of GAP-43 was studied by immunocytochemistry in the same retinas. As a control, a segment of optic nerve was transplanted into the vitreous body of the left eye in the third group of hamsters. These animals were allowed to survive for 4 weeks and the number of regenerating retinal ganglion cells was counted as in Groups 1 and 2. The percentages of the regenerating retinal ganglion cells which also expressed GAP-43 were very high at all time points in Group 1 (with no intravitreal peripheral nerve) and Group 2 (with intravitreal peripheral nerve) and at 4 weeks for the Group 3 (with intravitreal optic nerve) animals. In addition, the number of regenerating retinal ganglion cells, the number of retinal ganglion cells expressing GAP-43 and the number of regenerating retinal ganglion cells which also expressed GAP-43 were much higher in Group 2 than in Group 1 at all the time points and it was also much higher in Group 2 than in Group 3 at 4 weeks whereas there was no significant difference between the results from Groups 1 and 3 at 4 weeks. These data suggested that there was a close correlation between the number of the axotomized retinal ganglion cells regenerating axons into the peripheral nerve graft attached to the optic nerve and the expression of GAP-43.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Synaptic regeneration and glial reactions in the transected spinal cord of the lamprey.

We have examined axonal growth and synaptic regeneration in identified giant neurons of the transected lamprey spinal cord using intracellular injection of horseradish peroxidase. Wholemounts together with serial section light and electron microscopy, show that axons from identified Müller and Mauthner reticulospinal neurons grow across the lesion and regenerate new synaptic contacts. Relatively normal swimming returns in these animals by 3-4 weeks after spinal transection. This occurs despite the formation of regenerated synapses in regions of the cord that are not usually occupied by these neurons. The regenerating axons branch profusely in contrast to their unbranched state in the normal animal. In addition to showing the two synaptic configuration found normally, synapses may be formed by slender sprouts from the growing giant axon. These 'sprout' type synaptic contacts appear unique to the regenerating neuron. Only regenerated chemical synapses were seen; the morphologically mixed chemical and electrical (gap junction) synaptic complex common in the normal animal was not observed at regenerated synapses. The site of spinal transection in the functionally recovered animal shows an increase in the number of ependymal and glial cells. Ependymal-like cells appear in regions away from the central canal. The expanded ependymal and glial processes covering the peripheral surface of the injured cord become convoluted, in contrast to their normal smooth configuration. There is no collagen within the cord at the site of transection but a considerable deposition is seen external to the cord surface. Axonal growth across a spinal lesion and subsequent synaptic regeneration can be examined in single identifiable giant interneurons in the spinal cord of the larval lamprey. This preparation may be used as an assay to investigate factors that could contribute to functional recovery following central nervous system injury in the higher vertebrates.

Animals↗

Allogeneic nerve grafts in the rat, with special reference to the role of Schwann cell basal laminae in nerve regeneration.

The role of basal laminae as conduits for regenerating axons in an allogeneic graft was examined by transplanting a 3 cm long segment of the sciatic nerve from the Brown Norway to the Fischer 344 strain of rat. These strains are not histocompatible with each other. In order to compare the nerve regeneration in variously treated grafts, three different types of graft were employed: non-treated (NT), predenervated (PD), and predenervated plus freeze-treated (PDC) grafts. The cytology of nerve regeneration through these grafts was examined by electron microscopy at four, seven, 14, 30 and 60 days after grafting. In the PDC graft, in which Schwann cells were dead on grafting, basal laminae were well preserved in the form of tubes after Schwann cells and myelin sheaths had been removed at seven days after grafting. Regenerating axons accompanied by immature host Schwann cells grew out through such basal lamina tubes in the same fashion as observed in our previous studies. By day 14, axons extended as far as the middle of the graft. In the proximal part they were separated into individual fibres and even thinly myelinated by Schwann cells. On the other hand, in the NT and PD grafts in which Schwann cells were alive on grafting, most Schwann cells and myelin sheaths appeared to undergo autolytic degeneration by day 14, while Schwann cell basal laminae were left almost intact in the form of tubes. A few regenerating axons were seen associated with Schwann cells in the proximal portion by day seven. It is probable that host Schwann cells moved into the graft after donor cells had been degraded. Schwann cell basal laminae tended to be damaged at the site of extensive lymphoid cell infiltration. By day 30, regenerating axons had arrived at the distal end of the graft in all three types of graft: in the PDC graft thick axons were fully myelinated, whereas in the PD graft they were only occasionally myelinated and in the NT graft most axons were still surrounded by common Schwann cells. By 60 days after grafting, regenerating axons were well myelinated in the host nerve as observed 1 cm distal to the apposition site in all the three types of graft. These findings show that Schwann cell basal laminae can serve as pathways (most efficiently in the PDC graft) for regenerating axons in a 3 cm long allograft in the rat.

Animals↗

The roles of the synaptic basal lamina and of innervation in directing the accumulation of a synaptic molecule, mAb 3B6 antigen, in regenerating skeletal muscles.

We have recently described a novel nonhomogeneous distribution of a muscle synaptic molecule following denervation. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) 3B6 antigen, a molecule concentrated at endplate/junctional regions and myotendinous junctions in innervated muscles, appears in denervated muscles in restricted perijunctional regions that are continuous with and centered on endplates. In the present study we examine the roles of the synaptic basal lamina and of innervation in directing the accumulation of the molecule in newly formed regenerating muscle fibres. In denervated regenerating muscle fibres, mAb 3B6 antigen was associated with the plasma membrane and localized at former junctional and perijunctional regions. In those muscle fibres which displayed the perijunctional distribution, the molecule was preferentially colocalized with and centered on former endplate areas. Altogether, a preference for the localization of mAb 3B6 at former endplate regions was observed in 86-90% of denervated regenerating myofibres. A similar preference was observed in 97-99% of innervated regenerating muscle fibres. However, whereas 85.9% of denervated regenerating muscle fibres displayed a perijunctional distribution of the molecule, only 50.5% of innervated regenerating myofibres exhibited a perijunctional distribution. In addition, mAb 3B6 antigen was detected in the cytoplasm of most of the denervated regenerating myofibres but in none of the innervated ones. These results indicate that the basal lamina directs the preferential accumulation of mAb 3B6 antigen at original synaptic sites. Innervation, which is not a prerequisite for the expression of the molecule by regenerating muscle, down-regulates its overall production and presence in perijunctional regions.

Animals↗

Localization of synapsin I in normal fibers and regenerating axonal sprouts of the rat sciatic nerve.

The localization of synapsin I, a synaptic vesicle-associated protein, was investigated immunocyto-chemically in normal nerve fibers and regenerating axonal sprouts following crush-injuries to the rat sciatic nerve. In normal myelinated axons, weak synapsin I immunoreactivity was found in the axoplasmic/smooth endoplasmic domains, but not in the cytoskeletal domains comprising neurofilaments and microtubules. In non-myelinated axons without dense cytoskeletal structures, moderate immunoreactivity was distributed diffusely throughout the axoplasm. In the crush-injured nerves, intense synapsin I immunoreactivity was demonstrated by light microscopy in early regenerating sprouts emerging from nodes of Ranvier. These nodal sprouts subsequently elongated as regenerating axons through the space between the basal lamina and the myelin sheath (or Schwann cell plasma membrane). Intense synapsin I immunoreactivity was also found in the growth cones of such long regenerating axons. Electron microscopy revealed that synapsin I immunoreactivity was associated mainly with vesicular organelles in the nodal sprouts and growth cones of regenerating axons. Long regenerating axons exhibited no synapsin I immunoreactivity in the shaft, which contained an abundance of neurofilaments. However, vesicle accumulations remaining in the periphery of the shaft still exhibited intense synapsin I immunoreactivity. Thus, it can be concluded that synapsin I is localized at especially high density in the domains comprising vesicular organelles, which are characteristic of early nodal sprouts, as well as in growth cones of regenerating axons. These findings, together with the proposed functions of synapsin I investigated in other studies, suggest that synapsin I may play important roles in vesicular dynamics including the translocation of vesicles to the plasma membrane in sprouts and growth cones of regenerating axons.

Animals↗

Node of Ranvier formation along fibres regenerating through silicone tube implants: a freeze-fracture and thin-section electron microscopic study.

Thin-section and freeze-fracture electron microscopy have been used to examine the morphogenesis of the node of Ranvier in peripheral nerves regenerating through silicone tubes. A major question posed by this study is whether node formation in fibres regenerating across a gap recapitulates that occurring in normal development. Node formation occurs concurrently with myelination and follows a similar spatial gradient of progression from a proximal to distal direction along the regenerated nerve. Presumptive nodal sites appear prior to myelin formation and are identified as a prominent subaxolemmal density in thin sections and axonal particle patches in freeze-fracture. Following the appearance of presumptive nodes in regenerating fibres, dimeric particles are inserted into the axolemma adjacent to the node. These particles are in close apposition to the overlying Schwann cell terminal processes and with maturity adopt the same circumferential orientation seen in adult nodes. The nodal axolemma of regenerating fibres shows a characteristic increase in the prominence of its subaxolemmal densification and number of heterogeneously sized particles. Mature regenerated nodes demonstrate a complete annulus of nodal particles indistinguishable from control nodes. The results of the present study show that the nodal architecture of regenerating fibres is a faithful reconstruction of normal mature nodes, thus indicating that the morphological correlates associated with saltatory conduction at the node are present in regenerated nodes.

Animals↗

Genetic analysis of in vitro shoot regeneration from cotyledonary petioles of Brassica oleracea.

Diallel analysis was used to investigate the genetic control of in vitro shoot regeneration in Brassica oleracea. Twelve doubled haploid (DH) lines, selected to include a range of genotypes with differing shoot regeneration potentials, were crossed reciprocally to produce 132 F(1) and 12 selfed, DH families. Cotyledonary petioles from 4-day-old seedlings, from all families, were excised and maintained on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/l BAP. Explants were scored after 44 days for both the presence or absence of shoots and the number of regenerating shoots per explant. Diallel analysis showed both shoot regeneration and the production of multiple shoots to be controlled by additive and dominant gene effects, with additive effects being more important. Additive gene effects accounted for 71% and 77% of the genetic variation observed within the diallel for shoot regeneration and multiple shoot regeneration, respectively. By investigating the shoot regeneration potential of subsequent backcross and F(2) populations, the ability to introduce and increase shoot regeneration potential into otherwise recalcitrant lines was demonstrated.

Analysis of Variance↗

Visual selection and maintenance of the cell lines with high plant regeneration ability and low ploidy level in Dianthus acicularis by monitoring with flow cytometry analysis.

Efficient plant regeneration system from cell suspension cultures was established in D. acicularis (2n=90) by monitoring ploidy level and visual selection of the cultures. The ploidy level of the cell cultures closely related to the shoot regeneration ability. The cell lines comprising original ploidy levels (2C+4C cells corresponding to DNA contents of G1 and G2 cells of diploid plant, respectively) showed high regeneration ability, whereas those containing the cells with 8C or higher DNA C-values showed low or no regeneration ability. The highly regenerable cell lines thus selected consisted of compact cell clumps with yellowish color and relatively moderate growth, suggesting that it is possible to select visually the highly regenerable cell lines with the original ploidy level. All the regenerated plantlets from the highly regenerable cell cultures exhibited normal phenotypes and no variations in ploidy level were observed by flow cytometry (FCM) analysis.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗

Ultrasonic treatment stimulates multiple shoot regeneration and explant enlargement in recalcitrant squash cotyledon explants in vitro.

Ultrasonic treatment (0.5-2 min) stimulated multiple shoot regeneration to high levels in vitro from recalcitrant cotyledon explants of commercial squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) cultivars Ma'yan and Bareqet, on Murashige and Skoog [Physiol Plant 15:473-497, 1962] (regeneration) medium augmented with 4.4 microM benzyladenine. At this stage, unsonicated control explants regenerated only a few very small shoots or bud-like structures. Ultrasound also stimulated massive explant growth. Ultrasound treatment resulted in further multiple shoot production (five times greater than control) after explant transfer to elongation medium (Murashige and Skoog [Physiol Plant 15:473-497, 1962] medium with 0.44 microM benzyladenine and 2.9 microM gibberellic acid). Longer ultrasonic treatments (5 or 10 min) promoted multiple shoot regeneration and explant growth accompanied by hyperhydration. Scanning electron microscope observations showed that 2 min ultrasound changed the joint area between epidermal cells and removed some of the surface from the cotyledon epidermal cells, without gross surface injury to the explants. Longer periods of ultrasound (5-10 min) caused further surface erosion. Rubbing the explant contact surface with chloroform or sandpaper emulated the effect of sonication on shoot regeneration and explant growth, demonstrating that ultrasound exerts its morphogenic influence by surface removal. Sonication of explants from other batches of squash seeds (of cultivars Ma'yan and True French), that regenerated without such treatment, reduced regeneration and caused hyperhydration. This is the first report of stimulation of in vitro regeneration by ultrasound treatment.

Cotyledon↗

Hox C6 expression during development and regeneration of forelimbs in larval Notophthalmus viridescens.

A central theme concerning the epimorphic regenerative potential of urodele amphibian appendages is that limb regeneration in the adult parallels larval limb development. Results of previous research have led to the suggestion that homeobox containing genes are "re-expressed" during the epimorphic regeneration of forelimbs of adult Notophthalmus viridescens in patterns which retrace larval limb development. However, to date no literature exists concerning expression patterns of any homeobox containing genes during larval development of this species. The lack of such information has been a hindrance in exploring the similarities as well as differences which exist between limb regeneration in adults and limb development in larvae. Here we report the first such results of the localization of Hox C6 (formerly, NvHBox-1) in developing and regenerating forelimbs of N. viridescens larvae as demonstrated by whole-mount in situ hybridization. Inasmuch as the pattern of Hox C6 expression is similar in developing forelimb buds of larvae and epimorphically regenerating forelimb blastemata of both adults and larvae, our results support the paradigm that epimorphic regeneration in adult newts parallels larval forelimb development. However, in contrast with observations which document the presence of Hox C6 in both intact, as well as regenerating hindlimbs and tails of adult newts, our results reveal no such Hox C6 expression during larval development of hindlimbs or the tail. As such, our findings indicate that critical differences in larval hindlimb and tail development versus adult expression patterns of this gene in these two appendages may be due primarily to differences in gene regulation as opposed to gene function. Thus, the apparent ability of urodeles to regulate genes in such a highly co-ordinated fashion so as to replace lost, differentiated, appendicular structures in adult animals may assist, at least in part, in better elucidating the phenomenon of epimorphic regeneration.

Animals↗