Axolotl limb stumps with dorsal-ventral confrontations between digits 2 and 3 but with a normal anterior-posterior pattern were created by grafting between contralateral limbs. Graft and host differed in ploidy to permit a determination of the origin of cells in the regenerated limb. After regeneration, limbs were analysed for skeletal and muscle patterns and for the distribution of marked cells in the regenerate. Regenerated limbs showed varying degrees of abnormality in their dorsal-ventral organization. Following regeneration, the original dorsal-ventral discontinuities were in some cases maintained and in others resolved. The maintenance or resolution of pattern discontinuities occurred in a position-dependent manner. Cell marker analysis indicates a relationship between the resolution of discontinuities and the extent to which cells become displaced across the original graft-host interface. These data lend support to the suggestion that circumferential intercalation is directionally biased.

We have analysed the cellular contribution and cellular displacement which occur during regeneration from chimaeric (half triploid, half diploid) lower arms in the axolotl. In general both anterior and posterior halves contribute approximately 50% of the regenerated limb cells. Deviations from equal contribution were observed only when anterior tissue was grafted, suggesting that anterior tissue is more sensitive to grafting operations. Approximately 25% of all cells in the regenerated limb were found to be displaced to the opposite side of the limb. Cellular displacement was not random; 63% of all displaced cells were found in regions adjacent to the tissue of origin.