The effect of tail skin on the morphology and morphogenesis of limb regenerates in the red-backed salamander, Plethodon cinereus

Tail skin cuffs have been grafted to the upper forelimb of red-backed salamanders in either normal or 180°-rotated dorsoventral orientation. Subsequent amputation through the graft region resulted in arrested regeneration, distally deficient or typical four-digit regenerates. Distribution was not substantially influenced by graft orientation nor were there any supernumerary limbs induced by the axially dislocated tail skin on the limb stumps. Furthermore, regenerates bore no indication of tail-like structures other than large granular skin glands proximally. These data indicate that, unlike limb skin, tail skin is not morphogenetically active in the epimorphic process of limb regeneration. In addition, the species used in this study is a fin-less, round-tailed salamander. It is therefore suggested that the previously reported morphogenetic effects of tail skin on limb regeneration may be related to the presence of tail fins on the species studied.