Evidence that chemical carcinogens interfere with specific regeneration-controlling mechanisms of urodeles.
The present investigation was conducted in an attempt to understand the interrelationships between carcinogenesis and regeneration. The aim was to find out whether chemical carcinogens constitute a class of agents specifically interfering with the normal developmental process during amphibian limb regeneration. To achieve this, the potent chemical carcinogens N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and N-nitrosodimethylamine (DMN) were inserted at a position slightly proximal to the blastema of regenerating Triturus cristatus forelimbs. The results indicate that, sometimes, the two developmental parameters, growth rate and morphogenesis, were differently affected depending on the treated limb and the carcinogen used. The effect of DMN on regenerative growth rate was negligible, but morphogenesis was highly impaired. Similarly, MNNG-treated stumps displayed abnormal regenerates in both forelimbs, whereas growth rates were significantly affected only in the right forelimbs. The findings are discussed in the framework of the relevant hypotheses.
Koussoulakos
S
S
Zoological Laboratory, University of Athens, Greece.
D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008769:Methylnitronitrosoguanidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D014319:Triturus
D002273:Carcinogens; D008769:Methylnitronitrosoguanidine; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine