Regeneration of the urodele limb: A review

• Published in: Developmental dynamics Vol. 226; no. 2; pp. 280 - 294
• Main Authors: Nye, Holly L.D., Cameron, Jo Ann, Chernoff, Ellen A.G., Stocum, David L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.02.2003
• Subjects: AEC; Ambystoma maculatum; Ambystoma mexicanum; Animals; axolotl; dedifferentiation; Epidermis - physiology; Extremities - physiology; fibroblast growth factors; intercalation; limb; Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; pattern formation; patterning genes; positional identity; regeneration; Regeneration - physiology; retinoic acid; self‐organization; Signal Transduction - physiology; Transcription Factors - physiology; Urodela - physiology; Xenopus laevis
• ISSN: 1058-8388; 1097-0177
• DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.10236

Urodele amphibians have been widely used for studies of limb regeneration. In this article, we review studies on blastema cell proliferation and propose a model of blastemal self‐organization and patterning. The model is based on local cell interactions that intercalate positional identities within circumferential and proximodistal boundaries that outline the regenerate. The positional identities created by the intercalation process appear to be reflected in the molecular composition of the cell surface. Transcription factors and signaling molecules involved in patterning are discussed within the context of the boundary/intercalation model. Developmental Dynamics 226:280–294, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.