Non-innervated sense organs of the lateral line: development in the regenerating tail of the salamander Ambystoma mexicanum.

New lateral organs (neuromasts) are formed in regenerating tails of the larvae of a urodele, the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), even in the absence of the lateral line nerve, as confirmed by electron microscopic examination. The non-innervated organs are similar to normal innervated organs. The hair cells are polarized in opposite directions, and despite the lack of nerve endings, contain synaptic bodies, which in normal innervated organs are found in relation to afferent boutons.