Limb Regeneration inXenopus laevisFroglet

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 inXenopus, an anuran amphibian, is restricted. In this review of some aspects regarding adult limb regeneration inXenopus laevis, we suggest that limb regeneration in adultXenopus, which is pattern/tissue deficient, also represents epimorphosis.