Tissue transplantation immunity in the adult newt, Diemictylus viridescens. I. The latent phase: Healing, restoration of circulation, and pigment cell changes in autografts and allografts

Following the allogeneic transplantation of dorsal pigmented skin to the throat and flank of field collected adult Diemictylus viridescens there was, at 23 ± 0.5°C, a long latent period of about 16 days when such grafts were histologically and grossly indistinguishable from autografts. Circulation was usually restored in autografts and allografts between 10 and 11 days post‐grafting apparently by end to end anastomoses of graft and host vessels. Restoration of circulation was usually preceded by an initial dilation of the grafts' vessels and by the trauma induced death of some melanophores. An approximate five fold increase in the thickness of the dermal collagen of all grafts was noted throughout the latent phase as well as during graft rejection.