BUDS INDUCED FROM IMPLANTS OF NERVE CORD AND NEIGHBORING TISSUES IN THE POLYCHAETE, CLYMENELLA TORQUATA

Abstract

Small fragments of the body of the marine worm, Clymenella torquata, were transplanted into the 13th body segment of normal adult individuals of the same spp. Grafts composed mainly of nerve cord provoked the regeneration of an accessory tail in their vicinity (14 definite, 3 irregular cases). Control grafts containing no nerve cord have no similar effect. Thus, nerve grafts, possibly owing to adhering neoblasts, stimulate local outgrowths. The character of the latter conforms with the potentialities of the host site at which they arise; i.e., the accessory tails correspond to regenerates such as would arise from the level of implantation, irrespective of the varying levels from which the grafts were chosen.