Form and Function of the skin glands in the Himalayan newt Tylototriton verrucosus

Wanninger, Marion; Schwaha, Thomas; Heiss, Egon

doi:10.1186/s40851-018-0095-x

Cited by 13 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…The glandular secretion mechanism plays a major role in generating the pressure difference driving mucus flow. Generally, amphibian mucus glands secrete their content by sympathetic autonomic innervation of the myoepithelial cells—sometimes also referred to as smooth muscle fibres [62, 63]—surrounding the glands [64], leading to continuous [44] and synchronous [65, 66] mucus secretion. In the closed pad-substrate gap, continuous secretion is not needed, and may even enhance the loss of mucus.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…an increased number or thickness of the myoepithelial cells covering the ventral glands compared to the dorsal ones; Additional file 1: Figure SI.3), disagreeing with the hypothesis of the glandular muscle fibres driving secretion. An analysis of the arrangement of the myoepithelial structures surrounding the ventral digital mucus glands—as performed for the salamander Tylototriton verrucosus [63]—may illuminate their biomechanical relevance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparative and functional analysis of the digital mucus glands and secretions of tree frogs

et al. 2019

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Background Mucus and mucus glands are important features of the amphibian cutis. In tree frogs, the mucus glands and their secretions are crucial components of the adhesive digital pads of these animals. Despite a variety of hypothesised functions of these components in tree frog attachment, the functional morphology of the digital mucus glands and the chemistry of the digital mucus are barely known. Here, we use an interdisciplinary comparative approach to analyse these components, and discuss their roles in tree frog attachment. Results Using synchrotron micro-computer-tomography, we discovered in the arboreal frog Hyla cinerea that the ventral digital mucus glands differ in their morphology from regular anuran mucus glands and form a subdermal gland cluster. We show the presence of this gland cluster also in several other—not exclusively arboreal—anuran families. Using cryo-histochemistry as well as infrared and sum frequency generation spectroscopy on the mucus of two arboreal ( H. cinerea and Osteopilus septentrionalis ) and of two terrestrial, non-climbing frog species ( Pyxicephalus adspersus and Ceratophrys cranwelli ), we find neutral and acidic polysaccharides, and indications for proteinaceous and lipid-like mucus components. The mucus chemistry varies only little between dorsal and ventral digital mucus in H. cinerea , ventral digital and abdominal mucus in H. cinerea and O. septentrionalis , and between the ventral abdominal mucus of all four studied species. Conclusions The presence of a digital mucus gland cluster in various anuran families, as well as the absence of differences in the mucus chemistry between arboreal and non-arboreal frog species indicate an adaptation towards generic functional requirements as well as to attachment-related requirements. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of the role of glands and their secretions in tree frog attachment and in bioadhesion in general, as well as the evolution of anurans. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12983-019-0315-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative and functional analysis of the digital mucus glands and secretions of tree frogs

et al. 2019

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“…The mucous glands secrete mucus to keep it moist and prevent mechanical damage to delicate skin and delay evaporation of water [14]. Granular glands could synthesize a variety of chemicals such as peptides and alkaloids, to provide protection against fungal and bacterial infections and to resist predators [15]. In addition, glandular secretions are closely related to various biological effects such as cytotoxic, bactericidal, fungicidal, lytic, anesthetic, and phenomenal [16].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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2019

BJSTR

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Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) recruits the adaptor protein myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88) and Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinase 4 (IRAK4), triggering a series of immune responses. In this study, we investigated the localizations and expression levels of TLR4, MyD88 and IRAK4 in the skin of Rana dybowskii during the breeding and pre-hibernation periods. Histologically, the skin of Rana dybowskii consisted of epidermis and dermis. The epidermis consisted of stratum corneum, stratum granulosum, stratum spinosum and stratum germinativum, while the dermis was composed of homogenous gel, mucous glands and granular glands. TLR4, MyD88 and IRAK4 were immunolocalized in the epithelial and glandular cells of skin in both periods. Western blotting revealed that TLR4, MyD88 and IRAK4 were expressed in the breeding and pre-hibernation periods. Real-Time PCR showed that the mRNA expression level of MyD88 in the pre-hibernation decreased when compared with the breeding period, while the mRNA expression levels of TLR4 and IRAK4 were not significantly different between the breeding and pre-hibernation periods. These results suggested that TLR4, MyD88 and IRAK4 might participate in the skin immune system of Rana dybowskii during the breeding and pre-hibernation periods.

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“…Among the most distinctive defense mechanisms of all amphibians are the above-mentioned mucous and granular glands in their skin [25,33,34], the secretions of which keep the animals moist and slippery and difficult to grip and often represent powerful defensive chemicals [25,33,34]. The mucous glands are widely distributed throughout the integument and continuously secrete their contents onto the skin surface [25,33,34]. The mucous secretion acts as a physical barrier against pathogens, restricts loss of water, provides lubrication to the skin, reduces friction under water, and minimizes mechanical damage on land [25,33,34].…”

Section: Defenses Of Amphibiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the global animal biodiversity in the search for new drugs -Amphibians

Mans¹,

Pawirodihardjo²,

Djotaroeno³

et al. 2021

J Transl Sci

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Many breakthrough drugs have been developed from plants with medicinal properties on the basis of ethnopharmacological information. In the search for structurally novel and mechanistically unique lead compounds, drug discovery and development progams are now also paying attention to the myriad of bioactive molecules provided by the animal biodiversity. A well-known example emerging from these efforts is the breakthrough angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril used for the treatment of hypertension and congestive heart failure. Captopril has been developed as an analogue of bradykinin in the venom of the Brazilian pit viper Bothrops jararaca (Viperidae) following the observation that the latter agent lowered blood pressure by vasodilation. In the mean time, dozens of clinically useful and potentially therapaeutically applicable compounds from animal origin have been identified. The skin gland secretions of amphibians have been refined during millions of years of evolution to highly efficient defensive chemicals. These compounds have remarkable pharmacological activities and may also represent a treasure chest of potentially novel drugs against pathophysiological conditions. This paper addresses the importance of bioactive compounds in the skin secretions of frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians, and elaborates on the therapeutic potential of some of them as anti-alzheimer, cardiotonic, antidiabetic, anti-HIV, analgesic, antimicrobial, and antiparasitic compounds.Mans DRA (2020) Exploring the global animal biodiversity in the search for new drugs -Amphibians

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Form and Function of the skin glands in the Himalayan newt Tylototriton verrucosus

Cited by 13 publications

References 52 publications

Comparative and functional analysis of the digital mucus glands and secretions of tree frogs

Comparative and functional analysis of the digital mucus glands and secretions of tree frogs

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Exploring the global animal biodiversity in the search for new drugs -Amphibians

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