title: Serous cutaneous glands of the Pacific tree-frog Hyla regilla (Anura, Hylidae): patterns of secretory release induced by nor-epinephrine.
abstract: The serous (poison) cutaneous glands of the Pacific tree-frog Hyla regilla were induced to release their product by 10(-3)M nor-epinephrine stimulation. After discharge structural and ultrastructural features of the cutaneous glands involved in release were observed. Furthermore, the discharged product, consisting of discrete, secretory granules, was collected and processed for transmission electron microscope analysis. As indicated by patterns found in the myoepithelium encircling the syncytial secretory unit, gland discharge is caused by contraction of the peripheral myocytes. Muscle cell compression dramatically affects the syncytium and results in degenerative changes, including expulsion of the secretory unit nuclei. Therefore, the structural collapse in depleted glands has been ascribed to the mechanical activity performed by the myoepithelium during discharge, rather than cytoplasm involution described in conventional, holocrine glands. TEM investigation revealed that the secretory granules collected after discharge maintain their peculiar traits: they consist of recurrent patterns of thin subunits, acquired during serous maturation and provided with remarkable structural stability.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e Genetica dell'Università, via Romana 17, 50125 Firenze, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Delfino
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Drewes
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Magherini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Malentacchi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nosi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Terreni
mesh_terms: D000664:Amphibian Venoms / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005089:Exocytosis; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D032342:Muscle Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D022142:Secretory Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000664:Amphibian Venoms; D009638:Norepinephrine