Fine structure of regenerating scales and their associated cells in the cichlid Hemichromis bimaculatus (Gill)

Scale regeneration has been studied in H. bimaculatus . The removed scale, which serves as a control, is covered by its surrounding scleroblasts as can be seen with scanning electron microscopy. Subsequently, during regeneration, a population of scleroblasts arises in the empty dermal pocket as shown with transmission electron microscopy. At first, an elongated papilla of regeneration forms, probably from the differentiation of dermal fibroblasts. A scale anlage composed of the osseous layer appears in the middle of the papilla, which becomes a regenerating bag. All the surrounding large scleroblasts are involved in scale formation, although later three populations of scleroblasts specialize according to their location around the scale.