Because they are composed of epithelial cells, glands can show considerable regenerative ability. 2 Pancreas . Ligaturing the pancreatic duct causes the enzymatic destruction of most of the acinar tissue. If the ligature is released before the duct epithelium is killed, regrowth of glandular acini and islets can take place from the duct epithelium. 3 Kidney can replace tubular epithelium injured, for example, by toxins, but lost or damaged glomeruli are not restored.
Some regeneration occurs at the cut ends of fibres.
The end-piece reverts to the narrow myotube stage , seen in embryonic growth. Just outside the sarcolemma of intact muscle fibres lie satellite cells that act as residual, peripheral myoblasts, able to respond to injury by becoming active myoblasts. The end grows out a little way into the defect, then increases in thickness. If the cut is not wide, myotubes regenerating from each side may fuse and restore the fibres. Lung, likewise, is prevented by its elasticity and motion, and other factors, from effective regeneration, despite its epithelial content.