Transneuronal effects on amphibian limb regeneration

What determines organ size during development and regeneration?

The sizes of living organisms span over 20 orders of magnitude or so. This daunting observation could intimidate researchers aiming to understand the general mechanisms controlling growth. However, recent progress suggests the existence of principles common to organisms as diverse as fruit flies, mice and humans. As we review here, these studies have provided insights into both autonomous and non-autonomous mechanisms controlling organ growth as well as some of the principles underlying growth coordination between organs and across bilaterally symmetrical organisms. This research tackles several aspects of developmental biology and integrates inputs from physics, mathematical modelling and evolutionary biology. Although many open questions remain, this work also helps to shed light on medically related conditions such as tissue and limb regeneration, as well as metabolic homeostasis and cancer.

Cell-nonautonomous local and systemic responses to cell arrest enable long-bone catch-up growth in developing mice

Catch-up growth after insults to growing organs is paramount to achieving robust body proportions. In fly larvae, injury to individual tissues is followed by local and systemic compensatory mechanisms that allow the damaged tissue to regain normal proportions with other tissues. In vertebrates, local catch-up growth has been described after transient reduction of bone growth, but the underlying cellular responses are controversial. We developed an approach to study catch-up growth in foetal mice in which mosaic expression of the cell cycle suppressor p21 is induced in the cartilage cells (chondrocytes) that drive long-bone elongation. By specifically targeting p21 expression to left hindlimb chondrocytes, the right limb serves as an internal control. Unexpectedly, left-right limb symmetry remained normal, revealing deployment of compensatory mechanisms. Above a certain threshold of insult, an orchestrated response was triggered involving local enhancement of bone growth and systemic growth reduction that ensured that body proportions were maintained. The local response entailed hyperproliferation of spared left limb chondrocytes that was associated with reduced chondrocyte density. The systemic effect involved impaired placental function and IGF signalling, revealing bone-placenta communication. Therefore, vertebrates, like invertebrates, can mount coordinated local and systemic responses to developmental insults that ensure that normal body proportions are maintained.

Implantation of MNNG crystals into a Triturus intact limb affects mitotic and labeling indices, regeneration rate, and morphogenesis in the contralateral, regenerating limb

Experimental administration of chemical carcinogens to various mammals is highly effective in inducing malignant tumors. In contrast, treatment of regeneration-competent animals even with much higher doses of the same drugs only exceptionally leads to tumor-like growth. Usually, carcinogenic materials implanted or injected into a regenerating limb of urodele amphibia interfere with the regenerative process and frequently lead a). to growth retardation or arrest of regeneration, b). to development of a great variety of abnormal regenerates, and c). to generation of accessory, limb-like structures. Autonomous or experimental incidence of carcinogenesis is extremely low in animals endowed with strong regenerative capabilities. Of exceptional biological significance is the fact that such induced tumors usually regress spontaneously. This unique property of the regeneration-competent animals to resist carcinogenesis provides opportunities to compare non-cancerous alterations in the differentiated state of adult cells to those occurring in neoplasia. The mode of action of the chemical carcinogens on limb regeneration has not yet been clarified with certainty at the cellular and the molecular level. Several scientists claim that the above-mentioned effects might be attributed to local toxic influences of the drugs; therefore the present study was designed to investigate whether the administration of the carcinogen MNNG can affect cell proliferation, histogenesis, and morphogenesis at a region distant from the site of its implantation, even after a relatively long time period. To this end, 40 animals of the species Triturus cristatus had their right hindlimb surgically removed at the distal zeugopod. Then, a small microcrystal (approximately 5 micro g) of MNNG was inserted under the ventral aspect of the skin of the left tarsus in 20 of these animals (groups T and A; see below). Two months later, nine of the MNNG-treated animals were injected intraperitoneally with tritiated thymidine. After 2 h, six of these animals had their right hindlimb amputated at the distal zeugopod, whereas the rest were left to regenerate. The results were evaluated by camera lucida drawings, clearing in methyl benzoate, classical histology, and autoradiography. It was revealed that administration of MNNG at a somatic region (left hindlimb) reduces DNA synthesis and mitosis at a distant place (right hindlimb) even 2 months after MNNG implantation. Despite this, the rate of limb elongation is not substantially reduced. Classical histology revealed normal tissue structure throughout. All regenerated limbs displayed several teratogenic abnormalities.

Axonal transport and release of transferrin in nerves of regenerating amphibian limbs

Transferrin, a plasma protein required for proliferation of normal and malignant cells, is abundant in peripheral nerves of birds and mammals and becomes more concentrated in this tissue during nerve regeneration. We are testing the hypothesis that this factor is involved in the growth-promoting effect of nerves during the early, avascular phase of amphibian limb regeneration. A sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for axolotl transferrin was developed and used to determine whether this protein meets certain criteria expected of the trophic factor(s) from nerves. During limb regeneration adult sciatic nerves greatly increased their content of transferrin, which immunohistochemistry revealed was distributed in both axons and Schwann cells. Using the double ligature method with sciatic nerves in vivo, it was determined that transferrin is carried by fast anterograde axonal transport at all stages of limb regeneration. An approach based on multicompartment organ culture demonstrated that fast-transported transferrin was secreted in physiologically significant amounts at distal ends of regenerating axons. Finally, the concentration of transferrin in the distal region of larval axolotl limb stumps was found to decrease directly and rapidly in response to axotomy. Since transferrin is important for both axonal regeneration and cell cycling, the present data have significance for various aspects of nerve's trophic activity during limb regeneration.

Effect of denervation on hindlimb regeneration in Xenopus laevis larvae

Xenopus laevis larvae at stages 51-57, according to Nieuwkoop and Faber, were subjected to amputation of the right hindlimb or of both limbs at the thigh or the tarsal level, as well as to somatic denervation of the right limb. Larvae at the same stage having undergone amputation of the right limb or of both limbs and sham denervation of the right limb were used as controls. In experimental series I a single denervation of the right limb was performed at the time of amputation. In experimental series II repeated denervations were performed (before, during and after amputation). Results show that in larvae at stages 51-53 subjected to limb amputation at the proximal level (thigh) even repeated denervation of the right limb did not prevent regeneration, although giving rise to various degrees of hypotrophy. In stage-55 larvae partial inhibition of the regenerative process in the right limb was clearly visible only after repeated denervations and amputation at the proximal level. After amputation at the distal level (tarsalia) the regenerative process in the right limb underwent no significant delay with respect to the controls, although the regenerated right limb was hypotrophic. In stage-57 larvae even a single denervation at the time of amputation was enough to inhibit regeneration of the right limb after either proximal or distal amputation. Therefore, in Xenopus laevis larvae, nerve-dependence for hindlimb regeneration takes place proximodistally as the nerve fibers grow in the limb and it gradually undergoes a process of proximodistal differentiation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of forelimb amputation and denervation on protein synthesis in spinal cord ganglia of the newt

Analysis of the effects of forelimb amputation and denervation on [35S]methionine incorporation into the protein of newt brachial plexus nerve ganglia showed that amputation increases the level of protein synthesis about 4-fold as compared with that of control (nonamputated) animals. Denervation without amputation nearly doubles the level of protein synthesis as compared with controls. Analysis of labeled protein by means of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and radioautogram revealed incorporation patterns that are similar to controls; this observation suggests that amputation affects nerve cells quantitatively rather than qualitatively, in influencing the production of putative neurotrophic agents. A group of basic proteins ranging in Mr from 15,000 to 31,000 are prominently expressed in these radioautograms from experimental ganglia and may be important in promoting forelimb regeneration in the newt.

Corticospinal neurons 25 weeks after right hind limb amputation

Neuronal cell death in embryos and adult animals is seen after removal of target tissue. Transsynaptic cell death has been described in the mammalian visual system and suggested as a possible mechanism for loss of upper motor neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We previously demonstrated that amputation of a hind limb decreased the number of motor neurons in the rat spinal cord. Careful counts of corticospinal neurons in these rats 25 weeks after amputation failed to demonstrate any loss of corticospinal neurons. Although amputation caused a loss of ventral horn neurons, no subsequent loss of upper motor neurons was detected at 25 weeks.

Retention of lateral motor column neurons during the phase of rapid cell loss after limb amputation in Rana pipiens tadpoles

Target tissue regulation of naturally occurring neuronal death during development has often been studied by removing a limb bud and then analyzing spinal motor neuron number later in development. The present study focuses on the necessity for limb presence in the initiation of the most rapid phase of cell loss from the lateral motor column (LMC) and in the control of neuron number during this restricted developmental period. Unilateral hindlimb amputation in larval Rana pipiens at the time of onset of rapid LMC cell loss resulted in an unequal, bilateral retention of excess motor neurons (i.e., less cell loss than normally occurs) during this phase. Limb traumatization, with axotomy, also resulted in reduced bilateral LMC cell loss, although to a lesser extent than did amputation. Absence of the limb or axonal transection presumably prevents the communication of motor neurons with their differentiating targets and thus interferes with the flow of information required for the selective events of neuronal loss and survival. The presence of the limb with intact axons is essential at the time that LMC cell loss normally ensues for both the initiation and progression of the phase of greatest cell loss.

A nerve-conditioning lesion accelerates limb regeneration in the newt

A nerve-conditioning lesion induced sustained acceleration of limb regeneration. Newt limb nerves were subjected to a conditioning lesion by unilateral axotomy at the elbow 2 weeks prior to amputating both limbs above the elbows. Limbs on the side that had received a conditioning lesion began the regeneration process 3-4 days earlier than contralateral controls and this difference was observed up to recognizable digit formation. Limb buds on the conditioned sides had a twofold greater axonal density than contralateral counterparts at 2 weeks after amputation. Since limb bud formation is dependent on a sufficient quantity of axonal regrowth, accelerated limb regeneration is apparently due to accelerated reinnervation.

Levels of cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP in regenerating forelimbs of adult newts following denervation

The effect of short-term denervation (0, 12, 24, and 72 hours) on the levels of cyclic 3'5'-guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and cyclic 3'5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in adult newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) forelimbs at 15, 22, and 35 days of regeneration was investigated. Regenerate blastema and stump cyclic nucleotide levels were compared with those of the contralateral intact forelimb and hindlimb, with levels in the normally regenerating blastema, and with levels measured in the forelimbs of intact, nonoperated animals. Variations in cyclic nucleotide levels occurred according to regeneration stage and tissue type. Changes in level were noted immediately upon denervation and subsequently at other sample times in all regenerate and control series. Parallel fluctuations occurred in regenerate stump and contralateral intact forelimbs. Our results from nonamputated denervated and sham-denervated animals indicate that short-term, denervation-associated cyclic nucleotide fluctuations cannot be attributed solely to the loss of innervation.

Partial denervation effects on limb cartilage regeneration

Partially innervated axolotl arms gave regenerates of reduced size with deficient skeletal element replacement. This deficiency was most pronounced when nerve 4 (the largest of the brachial nerves) estimated to make up 50-60% of forelimb axons was removed by repeated resection. Nerve 3 or 5 removal gave less pronounced reduction deformities in the newly formed regenerate. The dependency of skeletal element formation upon nerves is emphasized but does not follow a strict segmental subtraction in axolotl forelimbs--perhaps because of overlapping innervation of nerves 3, 4, and 5 to all four digits. These effects of partial innervation add tentative support for an hypothesis of neurotome subtraction that was proposed to account for the syndrome of thalidomide abnormalities.

The relationship between growth, developmental stage and postamputation age of the regeneration blasterma of the newt, Notophthalmus viridescens

The growth of the regeneration blastema of the newt forelimb has been quantitated and analyzed as a function of postamputation age, developmental stage, animal weight, animal length, and cross sectional diameter of the blastemal base in both the anteroposterior and dorsoventral dimensions. Correlation coefficients computed for these variables show that growth of the regenerate in both length and volume is more closely correlated with developmental stage than postamputation age. In addition, the results show a linear relation between the loge (regenerate length) and developmental stage, and between regenerate length and volume. Thus, length can be used to assess growth of the regenerate according to a developmental rather thana chronological time scale. There were no significant correlations between regenerate length or volume and animal length, animal weight or cross sectional dimensions of the blastemal base. These results show that one can use a randomly selected population of animals and study the growth of the regeneration blastema by relating to a developmental time scale through a logarithmic transformation of the linear growth data.

The relation of nerves to multiple regeneration in a single newt limb

Three amputation surfaces were formed on the lower arm of a single newt. Growth occurred on all combinations of these surfaces. The proximal surface (the only single surface to form regenerates) produced more regenerates (76% of the cases) than the two more distal surfaces. Blocking the proximal surface with whole skin greatly stimulates the production of accessory structures on the first and/or second more distal surfaces. The mean number of nerve fibers on the proximal surface is considerably higher than the nerve counts of the first more and second most distal surfaces. Limbs possessing a notch or digit(s) on the proximal surface and the absence of growth on the first more and second distal surfaces also show a decrease in nerve number on the first more and second most distal surfaces. An analysis of the mean number of nerve fibers on the blocked (proximal) surface shows a noticeable decrease in comparison with nerve fibers in an equivalent level on normal limbs. Nerve fiber counts on the first more and second most distal surfaces are markedly increased on those limbs where the proximal surface was blocked with whole skin. Threshold experiments suggest that the irregular occurrence of accessory structures on the first more distal and second most distal surfaces may be related to an insufficient number of nerve fibers on these surfaces. Similarly, a possible explanation for the regular occurrence of accessory structures on the proximal surface is that nerve number on this surface is always above threshold.