Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ultrastructure and histochemistry of the ultimobranchial body of fresh-water turtles

  • Published:
Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und Mikroskopische Anatomie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The ultimobranchial body of fresh-water turtles,Pseudemys scripta andChrysemys picta, ultrastructurally and histochemically resembles the gland of other vertebrate groups and the homologous thyroid parafollicular cells of mammals. Characteristic features of all of these tissues are secretory granules measuring approximately 150–250 mμ, a distended endoplasmic reticulum, prominent Golgi regions and large numbers of free ribosomes. Unusual features of the turtle ultimobranchial body are an abundance of large cytoplasmic bodies measuring 800–1000 mμ and a dense, homogenous material within the lumina of the ultimobranchial follicles. The large cytoplasmic bodies usually occur near the luminal portion of the cells and are of similar electron density to the luminal contents, suggesting a possible functional relationship of these two glandular components.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Chan, A. S., Cipera, J. D., Bélanger, L. F.: The ultimobranchial gland of the chick and its response to a high calcium diet. Rev. canad. Biol.28, 19–31 (1969).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, R.: Ultrastructural observations on the ultimobranchial bodies of the South African clawed toad,Xenopus laevis Daudin. In: Calcitonin 1969. Proceedings of the Second Internat. Symposium, p. 348–358. London: Heinemann 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Copp, D. H., Cockcroft, D. W., Kueh, Y.: Ultimobranchial origin of calcitonin. Hypocalcemic effects of extracts from chicken glands. Canad. J. Physiol. Pharmacol.45, 1095–1099 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ekholm, R., Ericson, L. E.: The ultrastructure of the parafollicular cells of the thyroid gland in the rat. J. Ultrastruct. Res.23, 378–402 (1968).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lillie, R. D.: Histopathologic technic and practical histochemistry, 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malmqvist, E., Ericson, L. E., Almqvist, S., Ekholm, R.: Granulated cells, uptake of amine precursors, and calcium-lowering activity in the ultimobranchial body of the domestic fowl. J. Ultrastruct. Res.23, 457–561 (1968).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nunez, E. A., Gould, R. P., Holt, S. J.: Observations on the dense granules in bat thyroid parafollicular cells. In: Calcitonin. Proceedings of the Symposium on Thyrocalcitonin and the C Cells (S. Taylor, ed.), p. 203–214. London: Heinemann 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearse, A. G. E.: Histochemistry, vol. I, 3rd ed. Boston: Little, Brown and Company 1968a.

    Google Scholar 

  • —: The thyroid parenchymatous cells of Baber, and the nature and function of their C cell successors in thyroid, parathyroid, and ultimobranchial bodies. In: Calcitonin. Proceedings of the Symposium on Thyrocalcitonin and the C cells (S. Taylor, ed.), p. 98–109. London: Heinemann 1968b.

    Google Scholar 

  • —: The characteristics of the C cell and their significance in relation to those of other endocrine polypeptide cells and to the synthesis, storage and secretion of calcitonin. In: Calcitonin 1969. Proceedings of the Second Internat. Symposium, p. 125–140. London: Heinemann 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, Carvalheira, A. F.: Cytochemical evidence for an ultimobranchial origin of rodent thyroid C cells. Nature (Lond.)214, 929–930 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, Welsch, U.: Ultrastructural characteristics of the thyroid C cells in the summer, autumn and winter states of the hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus L.), with some reference to other mammalian species. Z. Zellforsch.92, 596–609 (1968).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson, D. R.: The ultimobranchial body inRana pipiens. II. The various cell types and the fate of secretory granules in the parenchyma of the young adult. Z. Zellforsch.67, 584–599 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: The ultimobranchial body inRana pipiens. IV. Hypercalcemia and glandular hypertrophy. Z. Zellforsch.85, 441–452 (1968a).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • —: The ultimobranchial body inRana pipiens. VI. Hypercalcemia and secretory activity-evidence for the origin of calcitonin. Z. Zellforsch.85, 453–465 (1968b).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • —: The ultimobranchial body inRana pipiens. VIII. Effects of extirpation upon calcium distribution and bone cell types. Gen. comp. Endocr.12, 479–490 (1969a).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • —: The ultimobranchial body inRana pipiens. IX. Effects of extirpation and transplantation on urinary calcium excretion. Endocrinology84, 1174–1178 (1969b).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • —: Some morphological observations of the ultimobranchial gland in the rainbow trout,Salmo gairdneri. J. Anat. (Lond.)105, 115–127 (1969c).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, Bell, A. L.: The ultimobranchial body inRana pipiens. I. The fine structure. Z. Zellforsch.66, 118–129 (1965).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • —, Swartz, G. E.: The development of the ultimobranchial body in the frogPseudacris nigrita triseriata. Trans. Amer. Micr. Soc.83, 330–337 (1964a).

    Google Scholar 

  • — —: Observations on the ultimobranchial body inRana pipiens. Anat. Rec.148, 219–230 (1964b).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sehe, C. T.: Comparative studies on the ultimobranchial body in reptiles and birds. Gen. comp. Endocr.5, 45–59 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoeckel, M. E., Porte, A.: Etude ultrastructurale des corps ultimobranchiaux du poulet. Z. Zellforsch.94, 495–512 (1969).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • —: A comparative electron microscopic study on the fowl, the pigeon, and the turtle-dove of the C cells localized in the ultimobranchial body and the thyroid. In: Calcitonin 1969. Proceedings of the Second Internat. Symposium, p. 327–338. London: Heinemann 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tauber, S. D.: The ultimobranchial origin of thyrocalcitonin. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)58, 1684–1687 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeigel, R. F., Dalton, A. J.: Speculations based on the morphology of Golgi systems in several types of protein-secreting cells. J. Cell Biol.15, 45–54 (1962).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Diseases and Biological Sciences Group, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA

    Lamia H. Khairallah & Nancy B. Clark

Authors
  1. Lamia H. Khairallah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nancy B. Clark
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Scientific Contribution No. 430, Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Connecticut. This study was supported by Grant GB 7619 from the National Science Foundation and grants from the University of Connecticut Research Foundation.

We wish to express our thanks to Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson and Mr. Joseph Waidalowski for their skillful technical assistance and to Dr. Carroll Burke for encouragement and use of the Electron Microscopy Laboratory.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Khairallah, L.H., Clark, N.B. Ultrastructure and histochemistry of the ultimobranchial body of fresh-water turtles. Z.Zellforsch 113, 311–321 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00968542

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00968542

Key-Words

Search

Navigation