SPECIFIC INHIBITION OF DIFFERENTIATION IN THE FROG EMBRYO BY CELL-FREE HOMOGENATES OF ADULT TISSUES

Abstract

The hypothesis that adult tissues produce substances which may specifically inhibit the differentiation of like embryonic tissues and organs has been tested by Rose (3) by rearing frog embryos in the presence of living fragments of adult organs. In the present investigation frog embryos were reared in media containing cell-free homogenates of adult brain or heart. The homogenates specifically suppressed or inhibited the development of these organs in about 10–15% of the embryos tested.