Systematics, biology, ecology And zoogeography of holothurians: Studies on regeneration in the holothurian Holothuria (metriatyla) scabra Jaeger

Abstract

The histological studies made on regeneration oiHolothuria (Metriatyla) scabra revealed that the alimentary canal regenerates as a thickening from the original mesentery through mitotic proliferation. The presence of groups of morula cells at the anterior and posterior remnants, during regeneration suggests their possible role in the process of wound healing. The circular muscle is formed by the de-differentiation and reorganization of the circular muscle fibres that are already present. The haemal rudiment is formed within three days as a projection of the mesenterial thickening. The respiratory tree originates as a solid rudimentary protrubarance from the ruptured end of the respiratory tree. The rate of regeneration, in all the tissues studied, seems to be more rapid when compared to that of temperate forms.