MACNBR   00242
MUSEO ARGENTINO DE CIENCIAS NATURALES "BERNARDINO RIVADAVIA"
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
New insights into sexually dimorphic skin glands of anurans: The structure and ultrastructure of the mental and lateral glands in Hypsiboas punctatus (Amphibia: Anura: Hylidae)
Autor/es:
BRUNETTI, A.E.; HERMIDA, G.N.; FAIVOVICH, J.
Revista:
JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY
Editorial:
WILEY-LISS, DIV JOHN WILEY & SONS INC
Referencias:
Lugar: New York; Año: 2012 vol. 273 p. 1257 - 1271
ISSN:
0362-2525
Resumen:
Many anuran species are characterized bysexually dimorphic skin glands. These glands often areconcentrated on specific areas, such as the mentalregion, flanks, or the nuptial pads. We studied the histologyand histochemistry of mental and lateral glandsin Hypsiboas punctatus, and compared them to skinfrom other body regions. We describe four types of dermalglands, two types of mucous and two types of serousglands. The mucous glands are formed by a single layeredepithelium. The mucocytes surrounding a centrallumen are filled with polyhedral granules. Ordinarymucous glands are small sized glands with cubical epithelium,mucoid content, and small granules. Specializedmucous glands are characterized by a larger size,a columnar epithelium, a proteinaceous content andlarger granules. Both types of serous glands are syncytialand share some structural features including size,shape, and morphology of secretory granules. However,ordinary and specialized serous glands differ in theirhistochemical properties, size and appearance of secretorygranules, and glandular outlets. The specializedtype of mucous glands in H. punctatus resembles mostSDSGs described in anurans, whereas the presence ofspecialized serous glands that are sexually dimorphic isless common. Both specialized glands occur only inmental and lateral regions of males, whereas ordinarymucous and ordinary serous glands occur in males andfemales.