title: Skin of the Red Eye Tree Frog Agalychnis Callidryas (Hylidae, Phyllomedusinae) Contains Lipid Glands of the Type Described in the Genus Phyllomedusa.
abstract: Several anuran species of the genus Phyllomedusa are known to possess specialized cutaneous glands producing lipids and exhibit a peculiar wiping behavior. This behavior is a stereotyped repertory of fore and hind limb movements distributing hydrophobic molecules onto the body surface and reducing evaporative water loss. No reports are presently available on the occurrence of lipid glands in other phyllomedusine genera, and data on the structure of the secretory units specialized for the production of cutaneous lipids are still unclear. The present report is aimed to answer both questions: it describes lipid glands of the Phyllomedusa type in Agalychnis callidryas and provides light and transmission electron microscope evidence of the syncytial structure of their secretory units, a typical feature of serous glands in anuran skin. This morphological trait supports the hypothesis that lipid glands are a specialized subset of the anuran serous glands, and underlines their flexible role in the skin adaption to sub-aerial environments. Anat Rec, 300:503-506, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rota
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tanteri
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montori
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giachi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Delfino
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, Louisiana.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sever
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids
keywords: Hylidae; anuran skin; histology; lipid glands; ultrastructure