Some aspects of tail regeneration in the lizard, Anolis carolinensis. II. The role of the peripheral nerves

The work reported here affirms that the ependyma supports tail regeneration and demonstrates that the peripheral nerve supply makes no essential contribution to the regenerative process. The normal peripheral nerve supply in the tail of Anolis carolinensis was found to be 4.5 fibers per (100 μ)2. In tails in which the peripheral nerve supply was reduced to 0.34 fibers per (100 μ)2 normal regeneration occurred if the ependyma was present. In the absence of the ependyma (i.e., the central nervous system) but with 50–75% of the peripheral nerves present no normal regenerative outgrowth occurred; however, three or four myomeres were regenerated.