Cellular events in denervated limb stumps of Ambystoma larvae during re-innervation and subsequent regeneration.

Amputated, denervated Ambystoma forelimbs undergo cellular dedifferentiation and slight resorption through 12 days post-amputation. Subsequently, as limb stumps become re-innervated, there occur mitosis, blastema formation, and regeneration. The initial increase in the mitotic index in once-denervated limb stumps is closely correlated with the presence of ingrowing nerve fibres.