Summary
-
1.
The eye extirpation experiment ofDürken (1913) has been repeated over a period of years with larvae ofRana sylvatica, and conflicting results have been obtained.
-
2.
In the experiments herein reported, larvae have been reared under varied conditions of illumination and of temperature. The few defective cases obtained (0.7% of the whole) were distributed equally between the operated individuals and the controls, and were independent of the influences of darkness or of light, and of varying temperatures.
-
3.
The results of these experiments strongly indicate that there is no causal relationship between the early removal of an eye and the later development of the limbs.
-
4.
The occurrence of cases with defective limbs among museum specimens and among material collected in the field suggests that abnormal limb formation may be due to an instability of the individual.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Aron, Max: Rôle du système nerveux central dans la croissance embryonnaire. Archives de Biol.39, 607–675 (1929).
Dürken, Bernhard: Über einseitige Augenexstirpation bei jungen Froschlarven. Ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis der echten Entwicklungskorrelationen. Z. Zool.105, 192–242 (1913).
—: Über Entwicklungskorrelationen and Lokalrassen beiRana fusca. Biol. Zbl.37, 127–139 (1917).
—: Über Entwicklungskorrelationen zwischen Extremitäten und Nervensystem beiRana fusca. Biol. Zbl.45, 541–550 (1925).
—: Zur Frage nach der Wirkung einseitiger Augenexstirpation bei Froschlarven. Biol. generalis (Wien)6, 511–552 (1930).
—: Über die Wirkung von Zink auf die Entwicklung der Froschlarven. Biol. generalis (Wien)7, 345–366 (1931).
Hamburger, Viktor: Über den Einfluß des Nervensystems auf die Entwicklung der Extremitäten vonRana fusca. Arch. Entw. mechan.105, 149–201 (1925).
—: Entwicklungsphysiologische Beziehungen zwischen den Extremitäten der Amphibien und ihrer Innervation. Naturwiss.15, H. 32, 657–661 (1927).
—: Die Entwicklung experimentell erzeugter nervenloser und schwach innervierter Extremitäten von Anuren. Arch. Entw.mechan.114, 272–363 (1928).
Higginbottom, John: Influence of physical agents in the development of the tadpole ofTriton and the frog. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. Lond.1850, 431–436.
Larsell, Olof: The-effect of experimental excision of one eye on the development of the optic lobe and opticus layer in larvae of the tree-frog (Hyla regilla). J. comp. Neur.48, Nr 2, 331–353 (1929).
- Personal communication. 1935.
Luther, Alex: Über die angebliche „echte Entwicklungskorrelation” zwischen Auge und Extremitäten bei Anuren und über einen Fall von Beinmißbildung und Polydactylie beim Frosch. Öfversigt af Finska Vetenskaps-Societetens Förhandlingar. Helsingfors. Bd. 58, Afd. A., Nr 18. 1915/16.
Petersen, Hans: Berichte über Entwicklungsmechanik. I. Entwicklungsmechanik des Auges. Erg. Anat.25, 623–660 (1924).
Pollister, A. W. andJ. A. Moore: Tables for the normal development ofRana sylvatica. Anat. Rec.68, Nr4, 489–496 (1937).
Warren, A. E.: Observations on the development of limbs inRana sylvatica following unilateral eye extirpation. Anat. Rec.61, Suppl., Nr 4, 48 (1935).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The first experiments of these series were performed at the Osborn Zoölogical Laboratory, Yale University, in the spring of 1926. Later experiments were carried on at Milton Academy, Milton, Massachusetts, and at the Zoölogical Laboratory of Harvard University. The writer desires to express his indebtedness for the facilities afforded him by these laboratories during the progress of this investigation.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Warren, A.E. Observations on limb development in Rana sylvatica following unilateral eye extirpation. W. Roux' Archiv f. Entwicklungsmechanik 139, 50–64 (1939). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00576383
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00576383