Lauriano, E.R., _ Zuwała, K., Kuciel, M., Budzik, K.A., Capillo, G., Alesci, A., Pergolizzi, S., Dugo, G., Zaccone, G. 2016. Confocal immunohistochemistry of the dermal glands and evolutionary considerations in the caecilian, Typhlonectes natans (Amphibia: Gymnophiona). -Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 97: 154-164.An immunohistochemical study of the cutaneous glands of the caecilian Typhlonectes natans was conducted. Analyses of nerve fibres revealed that adrenergic and galanin-positive axons innervate the MECs and mediate their contraction. These glands may represent one of the main targets of the adrenergic ganglion cells and reflect the prominent preganglionic cell columns of the species studied. But neurochemical features of the sympathetic ganglia and retrograde tract-tracing studies are necessary to study the morphology and organization of the sympathetic nervous system of studied species.

Rapid urbanization processes are not neutral to the environment, especially amphibians. Their double-environment lifestyle makes them particularly vulnerable to negative changes in the environment. Inventory research on batrachofauna carried out in urban areas usually provides data on its current state, but there is little information about changes in its composition over the years. The aim of the study was to investigate the situation of amphibians in urban areas of Kraków (Poland) over the last 90 years. As an example of amphibian species the common toad Bufo bufo (Linnaeus, 1758) was selected, because of its widespread occurrence and high environmental plasticity. Three periods were chosen for the analysis: 1) before the Second World War (1928-1939), when the nature of the city seemed to be the least exposed to treats, 2) after the rapid urban transformation associated with the expansion of the territory of the city (1986-1992), and 3) the present time. In order to determine the current situation of amphibians, in 2011-2012, 30 water bodies of Kraków were inventoried, with particular emphasis on the common toad. The occurrence of the same species in the city over the last 90 years was shown. The proportion of occupied habitat (POH) by the common toad (POH=0.57) is currently similar to the pre-Second World War proportion (POH=0.58). Between these two periods, there was a significant increase in the number of Bufo bufo in Kraków (POH=0.86). At that time the common toad was the only amphibian which increased, while the others declined. These results may suggest the high resistance of the species to the negative impact of urbanization during this period (loss and fragmentation of habitat and pollution). However, its resistance is limited, as evidenced by the recent decline of the species, just as most other amphibians of Kraków.

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Previous research on amphibian taste organs concerned amphibians with a biphasic life history, that is, with larval period and metamorphosis. Direct developing frog species, such as Eleutherodactylus coqui, undergo a cryptic metamorphosis before hatching, and many larval‐specific features are vestigial or have been lost entirely from their ontogeny. Taste buds are present in larval stages of biphasically developing anurans and are replaced by taste discs during metamorphosis. One goal of this study was to characterize the ontogeny of taste buds and/or discs in E. coqui. The other goal was to examine correlations between body size and taste organ density and size in different regions of oral epithelium. The research reveals the presence of only one type of taste organ, characteristic of metamorphs of biphasic amphibians, namely taste disc. In addition, taste disc density and the area of the taste disc sensory zone change dramatically during growth.