Figure 3.

Histological characterization of the mesenchymal and bone tissue after distal and proximal amputation. a, non-amputated digit at 11 dab used as control for comparison of the digit tip morphology. An area of vascularized loose connective tissue can be seen at the distal end of the digit between the amputated bone, the nail bed and the regenerated epidermis at distally (a’, arrow) and proximally amputated digits (a”, arrow). The ossified portion of the distal phalanx with the underlying periosteum is partially preserved in the distally amputated digit (a’, arrowhead), while both are completely removed in the proximally amputated digit (a”). Mallory trichrome stain (Scale bars, 100 μm). Amputations performed at 3 days after birth (dab).