Implantation of MNNG crystals into a Triturus intact limb affects mitotic and labeling indices, regeneration rate, and morphogenesis in the contralateral, regenerating limb

Experimental administration of chemical carcinogens to various mammals is highly effective in inducing malignant tumors. In contrast, treatment of regeneration-competent animals even with much higher doses of the same drugs only exceptionally leads to tumor-like growth. Usually, carcinogenic materials implanted or injected into a regenerating limb of urodele amphibia interfere with the regenerative process and frequently lead a) to growth retardation or arrest of regeneration, b) to development of a great variety of abnormal regenerates, and c) to generation of accessory, limb-like structures. Autonomous or experimental incidence of carcinogenesis is extremely low in animals endowed with strong regenerative capabilities. Of exceptional biological significance is the fact that such induced tumors usually regress spontaneously. This unique property of the regeneration-competent animals to resist carcinogenesis provides opportunities to compare non-cancerous alterations in the differentiated state of adult cells to those occurring in neoplasia. The mode of action of the chemical carcinogens on limb regeneration has not yet been clarified with certainty at the cellular and the molecular level. Several scientists claim that the above-mentioned effects might be attributed to local toxic influences of the drugs; therefore the present study was designed to investigate whether the administration of the carcinogen MNNG can affect cell proliferation, histogenesis, and morphogenesis at a region distant from the site of its implantation, even after a relatively long time period. To this end, 40 animals of the species Triturus cristatus had their right hindlimb surgically removed at the distal zeugopod. Then, a small microcrystal (approximately 5 µg) of MNNG was inserted under the ventral aspect of the skin of the left tarsus in 20 of these animals (groups T and A; see below). Two months later, nine of the MNNG-treated animals were injected intraperitoneally with tritiated thymidine. After 2 h, six of these animals had their right hindlimb amputated at the distal zeugopod, whereas the rest were left to regenerate. The results were evaluated by camera lucida drawings, clearing in methyl benzoate, classical histology, and autoradiography. It was revealed that administration of MNNG at a somatic region (left hindlimb) reduces DNA synthesis and mitosis at a distant place (right hindlimb) even 2 months after MNNG implantation. Despite this, the rate of limb elongation is not substantially reduced. Classical histology revealed normal tissue structure throughout. All regenerated limbs displayed several teratogenic abnormalities. Teratogenesis Carcinog. Mutagen. 22:473–483, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.