FGF-2 INDUCES REGENERATION OF THE CHICK LIMB BUD

The chick limb bud is unable to mount a regenerative response followin g amputation at any stage of its development. Local application of hep aran sulfate conjugated beads loaded with fibroblast growth factor-2 ( FGF-2) onto an amputated stage 25 chick limb bud results in a high fre quency (88%) of limbs in which the regeneration of digit-like structur es was induced. The regenerative response is associated with the locat ion of the FGF-2-loaded beads on the limb stump. This is the first rep ort of the induction of a regenerative response in a higher vertebrate limb by a chemically defined agent. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.