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.
D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000502:physiology*; D005552:Forelimb / Q000502:physiology*; D009409:Nerve Crush; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009673:Notophthalmus viridescens / Q000502:physiology*; D012038:Regeneration; D012455:Salamandridae / Q000502:physiology*