Not only does regeneration take place in an antero-posterior direction,
but in many animals also at the side. The regeneration of the limb of
the salamander is, of course, a case of lateral regeneration in
relation to the animal as a whole, but in a longitudinal direction in
regard to the limb itself. Lateral regeneration of the limb would take
place if the limb was split lengthwise into two parts and one of the
parts removed. If the entire salamander were cut in two lengthwise, each
half would most certainly die without regeneration, if for no other
reason than that the integrity of the median organs is necessary for the
life of the different parts. If, however, a planarian is cut lengthwise
into a right and left half, each piece will complete itself laterally
and make a new worm (Fig. 13½, _A-D_). Even a narrow piece cut from
the side will produce a new worm by regenerating laterally, as shown in
Fig. 19, _a_, _b_, _c_. In hydra, also, a half-longitudinal piece
produces a new animal, but in this case not by the addition of new
material at the side, but by the cut-edges meeting to make a tube of
smaller diameter. Subsequently the piece changes its form into that
characteristic of hydra.
_REGENERATION OF TERMINAL PORTIONS OF THE BODY_
In most of the preceding examples the behavior of the larger piece of
the two that result from the operation has been described; but there are
some important facts in connection with the regeneration of the smaller
end-pieces. The leg, or the tail, that has been cut from the salamander
soon dies without regenerating. The life of the leg can be maintained
only when the part is supplied with certain substances from the body of
the animal. It does not follow, of course, that, could the leg or the
tail be kept alive, they would regenerate a salamander. In fact, there
is evidence to show, in the tail at least, that, although it may
regenerate a structure at its anterior end, the structure is not a
salamander, but something else. This has been definitely shown in
certain experiments with the tail of the tadpole. It is possible to
graft the tail of one tadpole in a reversed position, _i.e._ with its
anterior end free, on the tail of another tadpole (Fig. 54, _A-D_), or
even on other parts of the body. Regeneration takes place from the free
end, _i.e._ from the proximal end of the grafted tail. The new structure
resembles a tail, and not a tadpole. If it be objected that the
experiment is not conclusive because of the presence of the old tail, or
of the use of the newly developing part, the objection can be met by
another experiment. If, as shown in Fig. 56, _A_, a triangular piece is
cut out of the base of the tail of a young tadpole, the cut being made
so deep that the nerve-cord and notochord are cut in two, there develops
from the proximal end of the tail a new tail-like structure that is
turned forward, or sometimes laterally. In this case the objections to
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account