Morphogenesis of the amphibian limb blastema: the relationship between pattern and form.

A relationship between pattern formation and field shape is established following the formation of rounded blastemas on lower arm limb stumps after treatment with vitamin A. Pattern formation is not affected by alteration in blastemal shape caused by removal of the dermis from the thigh region of the leg. We conclude, therefore, that blastemal shape does not play a causal role in establishing limb pattern. Data relating the number of cells present between the cardinal axial poles of blastemas and the size of blastemas is discussed in terms of short are intercalation and short range cell-cell interactions during pattern regulation.