Summary
Fine structural and enzyme histochemical observations on ultimobranchial body and parathyroid gland of the caecilian Chthonerpeton are presented. The cell clusters and follicles of the ultimobranchial body consist mainly of granulated cells which are termed C-cells and obviously belong to the APUD cell series. In the larger follicles additional possibly exhausted degranulated cells and replacement cells occur. A rich supply of nerve fibres has been found in this gland. Frequently nerve terminals were observed to come into synaptic contact with the C-cells. Two categories of nerve fibres occur: a) fibres containing large polymorphic electron dense granules (probably purinergic fibres), b) fibres containing small electron transparent vesicles and a few electron dense granules (probably cholinergic fibres). The parathyroid gland consists of elongated cells (one cell type) poor in organelles and often containing fields of glycogen and lipid droplets. The cells are further characterized by fair amounts of lysosomal enzymes; they are interconnected by maculae adhaerentes and occludentes. No nerves and blood vessels have been found in the parathyroid gland of Chthonerpeton.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bargmann, W.: Die Epithelkörperchen. In: Handbuch der mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen (W. v. Möllendorff, ed.), Bd. VI/2. Berlin: Springer 1939
Bloom, W., Fawcett, D.W.: A Textbook of Histology. Philadelphia: Saunders Company 1970
Boschwitz, D.: Influence of prolactin on the ultimobranchial bodies of Bufo viridis. Israel J. Zool. 18, 277–289 (1969)
Boschwitz, D.: The ultimobranchial body of the anura of Israel. Herpetologia 16, 91–100 (1960)
Brehm, H. v.: Morphologische Untersuchungen an Epithelkörperchen (Glandulae parathyreoideae) von Anuren. Teil I. Z. Zellforsch. 61, 376–400 (1963)
Burnstock, G.: Purinergic nerves. Pharm. Rev. 24, 509–581 (1972)
Coleman, R.: Ultrastructural observations on the parathyroid glands of Xenopus laevis Daudin. Z. Zellforsch. 100, 201–214 (1969)
Coleman, R.: The fine structure of ultimobranchial secretory cells in the anurans: Rana temporaria L. and Bufo bufo L. Z. Zellforsch. 110, 301–310 (1970 a)
Coleman, R.: Ultrastructural observations on the ultimobranchial bodies of the South African clawed toad, Xenopus laevis Daudin. In: Calcitonin 1969, Proc. Second Int-Symp. p. 348–358. London: Heinemann 1970 b
Coleman, R.: A comparative ultrastructural study on ultimobranchial glands of some Israeli anurans (Bufo viridis, Rana ridibunda, and Hyla arborea). Z. Zellforsch. 129, 50–50 (1972)
Cortelyou, J.R., McWhinnie: Parathyroid glands of amphibians. I. Parathyroid structure and function in the amphibian with emphasis on regulation of mineral ions in body fluids. Amer. Zoologist 7, 843–855 (1967)
Gould, R.P., Hodges, R.D.: Studies on the fine structure of the avian parathyroid glands and ultimobranchial bodies. Mem. Soc. Endocr. 19, 567–603 (1971)
Hara, J., Yamada, K.: Chemocytological observations on the parathyroid gland of the toad (Bufo vulgaris japonicus) in specimens taken throughout the year. Z. Zellforsch. 65, 814–828 (1965)
Klose, W.: Beiträge zur Morphologie und Histologie der Schilddrüse, der Thymusdrüse und des postbranchialen Körpers von Proteus anguineus. Z. Zellforsch. 14, 385–439 (1932)
Klumpp, W., Eggert, Br.: Die Schilddrüse und die branchiogenen Organe von Ichthyophis glutinosus L. Z. wiss. Zool. 146, 329–381 (1934)
Le Douarin, N., Le Lièvre, C.: Demonstration of the neural origin of the ultimobranchial body glandular cells in the avian embryo. In: Endocrinology 1971, p. 153–163. London: Heinemann 1972
Maurer, Fr.: Schilddrüse, Thymus und Kiemenreste der Amphibien. Morph. Jb. 13, 296–382 (1888)
Noorden, S. van, Pearse, A.G.E.: Immunofluorescent localization of calcitonin in the ultimobranchial gland of Rana temporaria and Rana pipiens. Histochemie 26, 95–97 (1971)
Pearse, A.G.E.: 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, Proc. Second Int. Symp. 125–140, 1970
Pearse, A.G.E.: The endocrine polypeptide cells of the APUD series (structural and functional correlations). Mem. Soc. Endocr. 19, 53–555 (1971)
Pearse, A.G.E.: Histochemistry — Theoretical and applied, 3rd ed. London: J. & A. Churchill Ltd., 1 (1968), 2 (1972)
Robertson, D.R.: The ultimobranchial body in Rana pipiens. III. Sympathetic innervation of the secretory parenchyma. Z. Zellforsch. 78, 328–340 (1967)
Robertson, D.R.: The ultimobranchial body in Rana pipiens. VI. Hypercalcemia and secretory activity-evidence for the origin of calcitonin. Z. Zellforsch. 85, 453–465 (1968a)
Robertson, D.R.: The ultimobranchial body in Rana pipiens. VII. Cellular responses in denervated glands in autoplastic transplants. Z. Zellforsch. 90, 273–288 (1968b)
Robertson, D.R., Bell, A.L.: The ultimobranchial body in Rana pipiens. I. The fine structure. Z. Zellforsch. 66, 118–129 (1965)
Rogers, D.C.: An electron microscope study of the parathyroid gland of the frog (Rana clamitans). J. Ultrastruct. Res. 13, 478–499 (1965)
Romeis, B.: Morphologische und experimentelle Studien über die Epithelkörper der Amphibien. Z. Anat. 80, 547–578 (1926)
Scholz, J.: Morphologische Untersuchungen über die Epithelkörper der Urodelen. Z. mikr.-anat. Forsch. 34, 159–200 (1933)
Setoguti, T., Isono, H., Sakurai, S.: Electron microscopic study on the parathyroid gland of the newt Triturus pyrrhogaster (Boie) in natural hibernation. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 31, 46–60 (1970)
Watzka, M.: Vergleichende Untersuchungen über den ultimobranchialen Körper. Z. mikr.-anat. Forsch. 34, 485–533 (1933)
Welsch, U.: Die Entwicklung der C-Zellen und des Follikelepithels der Säugerschilddrüse. Erg. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch. 46, 2, 1–51 (1972)
Welsch, U., Schubert, Ch., Storch, V.: Investigations on the thyroid gland of embryonic, larval and adult Ichthyophis glutinosus and Ichthyophis kohtaoensis (Gymnophiona, Amphibia). Cell Tiss. Res. 155, 245–268 (1974)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study has been supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft We 380/5.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Welsch, U., Schubert, C. Observations on the fine structure, enzyme histochemistry, and innervation of parathyroid gland and ultimobranchial body of Chthonerpeton indistinctum (Gymnophiona, Amphibia). Cell Tissue Res. 164, 105–119 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00221698
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00221698