Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Limbs generated at site of tail amputation in marbled balloon frog after vitamin A treatment

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

NIAZI and Saxena1 first observed that vitamin A has an inhibitory and modifying influence on tail regeneration in Bufo andersonii tadpoles. A positive relationship was later found between the inhibiting influence of vitamin A and the developmental stage of the regenerating tail in the same species2. There have been several subsequent reports3–7 on the effects of vitamin A and its derivatives on limb development and regeneration. Thus in regenerating amphibian limbs, application of retinoids produces pattern duplication in the proximodistal and anteroposterior axes of the limb3,8,9, and local application of retinoic acid to the anterior side of developing chick limbs causes duplications in the anteroposterior axis of limb10,11. Here we show that vitamin A can cause limb development when applied to amputated tail stumps of the tadpoles of the marbled balloon frog Uperodon systoma (Anura Microhylidae). This is the first report of homeotic transformation mediated through vitamin A in vertebrates.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Niazi, I. A. & Saxena, S. Experientia 24, 852–853 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Niazi, I. A. & Saxena, S. Indian J. exp. Biol. 17, 866–868 (1979).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Maden, M. J. Embryol. exp. Morphol. 77, 273–295 (1983).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Maden, M., Keeble, S. & Cox, R. A. Roux's Arch. dev. Biol. 194, 228–235 (1985).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Scadding, S. R. & Maden, M. J. Embryol. exp. Morphol. 91, 19–34 (1986).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Scadding, S. R. & Maden, M. J. Embryol. exp. Morphol. 91, 35–53 (1986).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Ludolph, D. C. Cameron, J. A. & Stocum, D. L. Devl. Biol. 140, 41–52 (1990).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Thomas, S. D. & Stocum, D. Devl Biol. 103, 319–328 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Niazi, I. A. & Alam, S. Roux's Arch. dev. Biol. 193, 111–116 (1984).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Tickle, C., Alberts, B., Walpert, L. & Lee, J. Nature 296, 564–566 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Summerbell, D. J. Embryol. exp. Morphol. 78, 269–289 (1983).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Mohanty-Hejmadi, P. Prakruti-Utkal Univ. J. Sci. 11, 81–87 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  13. De Robertis, E. M., Oliver, G. & Wright, C. V. E. Scient. Am. 46–52 (July 1990).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, 751004, Orissa, India

    P. Mohanty-Hejmadi, S. K. Dutta & P. Mahapatra

Authors
  1. P. Mohanty-Hejmadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. K. Dutta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. Mahapatra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mohanty-Hejmadi, P., Dutta, S. & Mahapatra, P. Limbs generated at site of tail amputation in marbled balloon frog after vitamin A treatment. Nature 355, 352–353 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/355352a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/355352a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation