Role of acid and alkaline phosphatases during vitamin a induced abnormal tail regeneration in the tadpoles of the indian tree frog

Treatment of vitamin A (10IU/ml for 72 hours) to the tail amputated tadpoles of the Indian tree frog, Polypedates maculatus led to regeneration of abnormal tails from 20% abnormally regenerated tails ectopic limbs developed. A biochemical investigation revealed an elevation in the specific activity of acid and alkaline phosphatase in the regenerating tail of the control group in comparison to the original tails. In the vitamin A induced abnormally regenerated tails, there was significant increase in the activity of these two enzymes than the respective regenerated tails of the control group. Thus, it is evident that vitamin A induced specific activity of both acid an alkaline phosphatase in the abnormally regenerated tails, a prerequisite for ectopic limb development.