Regeneration research in the Soviet Union

Over the past 20 years Soviet research in regeneration has undergone a shift in emphasis from work on amphibians to mammals. In that period several distinct schools of thought have arisen, and often there has been considerable controversy as to the nature of certain regenerative processes. At present most mammalian tissues and organs are being studied with respect to natural regenerative capacity and means of stimulating further regeneration. The most striking results have been obtained in the areas of muscle and bone regeneration. Progress in other areas has been less spectacular. Considerable effort has been put into devising means of regenerating functional tissue from pathologically changed or irradiated organs. The field of regeneration research in the Soviet Union is quite highly organized and includes a relatively large number of workers. Progress has, to some extent, been impeded by shortages of equipment and biochemical preparations.