Vitamin A inhibits amphibian tail regeneration

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Abstract
The objective of this investigation was to determine what effect vitamin A had on tail regeneration in Notophthalmus viridescens adults, in Ambystoma mexicanum larvae, and in Xenopus laevis tadpoles. Notophthalmus viridescens and Ambystoma mexicanum had their tails amputated and then were treated with retinol palmitate by immersion in concentrations known to cause proximodistal duplications in regenerating limbs. Xenopus laevis tadpoles had their tails amputated and then were treated with either retinol palmitate by immersion, or with retinoic acid administered by implantation of silastin blocks containing retinoic acid. The results ranged from no effect at all at the lower dose levels used, to complete inhibition of tail regeneration at higher dose levels. The degree of inhibition of tail regeneration appeared to be dose dependent. In no case were any duplicated or accessory structures formed analogous to those observed in regenerating limbs. This result suggests that the morphogenetic processes involved in tail regeneration are at least in some ways different from those occurring in limbs, where a similar vitamin A treatment would cause proximodistal duplication or production of accessory limb structures.