Figure 4From: The caudal regeneration blastema is an accumulation of rapidly proliferating stem cells in the flatworm Macrostomum lignanoInterference contrast images of a tail plate blastema of living specimens. 26 (A), 28 (B), 48 (C, D) and 72 (E, F) hours after cutting. The scheme in (D) is indicating the orientation of the animals in all subpanels. (C, D) and (E, F) are different focal planes of the same specimens, respectively. The blastema bl makes up the posterior part of the body and is delimited anteriorly by the gut. 24–28 hours after cutting, the blastema shifts from its ventral position (A) to the posterior end of the body (B). (C) 48 hours after cutting the blastema has grown substantially, and several duo-gland adhesive systems have been rebuilt (arrow in D), which significantly increase in number after 72 hours (F, arrows). At this time, the male genital apparatus mg is being rebuilt with the first tip of the stylet and a small vesicula granulorum to be seen. An arrow points at a long sensory cilium (E). Arrowheads denote rhabdites. Dotted lines indicate blastema extension. Scale bar is 50 μm for all sub-panels.Back to article page