Regeneration of the caudal axial skeleton in a gekkonid lizard (Hemidactylus) with particular reference to the 'Latent' period

Yehudah L. Werner*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

1. 1. Regeneration of the caudal axial skeleton in the gekkonid lizard Hemidactylus turcicus L. was investigated, after autotomy, after intervertebral amputation and after amputation within an earlier regenerate. 2. 2. There always follows a latent period during which osteoclasts (or chondroclasts) cut off the equivalent of a quarter-vertebra which is consequently lost. This process is termed ablation. 3. 3. Analysis of evidence in the literature suggests that loss of a quarter-vertebra (through either ablation or absorption) precedes tail regeneration in other geckos and Lacerta as well. 4. 4. After ablation a regenerate grows, in which the vertebral column is represented by an unsegmented cartilage tube. Development of this tube is described. Its structure conforms in the main to previous descriptions. 5. 5. Tissue within the intersegmental, midvertebral, autotomy split apparently does not participate in tail regeneration following autotomy. 6. 6. Similarly, it is not clear whether tissues from the site of the original injury give rise to the blastema for tail regeneration, in saurians. 7. 7. In the process of ablation within an earlier regenerate, chondroclasts appear at a considerable distance from bony tissue. They seem to be identical with osteoclasts. 8. 8. Growth rate of the regenerate appears to be similar after all three types of amputation. 9. 9. Earlier descriptions of tail regeneration, as far as pertinent, are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)103-125
Number of pages23
JournalActa Zoologica
Volume48
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1967

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