The fine structure of tissues in the amputated‐regenerating limb of the adult newt, Diemictylus viridescens

We have examined the fine structure of injured, repairing and regenerating tissues of the amputated forelimbs of the adult newt: observations were made on wound epithelium, nerves, striated muscle, the regeneration blastema, connective tissues and cartilage. The wound epithelium shows little modulation from the adjacent epidermis: a subjacent glycocalyx and hemidesmosomes are initially absent. Some cells reveal phagocytic activity. As regeneration progresses, a glycocalyx, hemidesmosomes, and an adepidermal reticulum of fibers develop. Nerve fiber degeneration and regeneration lie side by side in the same nerve bundle. Myelin degeneration is evident within 24 hours; neural connective tissues loosen and fibers appear to spread apart. Striated muscle fibers display a nonuniform response to trauma, due to unequal degree of injury inflicted by amputation. The moderately and greatly injured fibers lose their distal fibril organization. There is a numerical increase in mitochondria, and occasionally a pyknotic nucleus is present. The myofiber glycocalyx appears to resist destruction, even when cell degeneration is extensive. Satellite cells have been observed intimately in contact with injured myofibers. Myogenesis is accompanied by an increase in collagen fibrillogenesis associated with adjacent fibroblasts. Many of these latter cells appear to contain intracellular fibrils: the significance of these observations are discussed, and a basis for intracellular fibrillogenesis and tropocollagen accretion is proposed. The fine structure of the regeneration blastema cell agrees with the description offered by others for the adult newt limb regeneration. Early prochondral condensation of blastema cells is described briefly.