Histochemical and quantitative study of the cloacal glands of Triturus marmoratus marmoratus (Amphibia: Salamandridae)

Abstract

With 2 plates and 1 figure in the text)The cloacal glands of the male marbled newt Triturus marmoiarus marmoratus were studied during winter and summer by histochemical and quantitative histologic methods. Four types of glands were distinguished: pelvic, dorsal, ventral, and Kingsbury's glands. The pelvic and dorsal glands have an eosinophilic epithelium and secrete neutral mucins. The ventral and Kingsbury's glands have a basophilic epithelium and secrete acid mucins. The lectin-histochemical characterization of the carbohydrates secreted by the four gland types revealed that the secretion of both the pelvic and Kingsbury's glands contain P-GalNAc in the peripheral region of the oligosaccharide, and that the dorsal glands secrete a glycoprotein with a-GalNAc. The ventral gland sections did not react to any of the lectins used here. The quantitative study revealed that the cloaca undergoes seasonal variations in volume, being significantly larger in winter than in summer. The total volume occupied by both the pelvic and ventral glands, as well as their tubular diameter, are also significantly greater in winter, while these parameters do not vary in dorsal and Kingsbury's glands. No seasonal differences were observed in the height of the epithelium in any gland.

Ultrastructure and lectin cytochemistry of the cloacal ventral glands in the male newtTriturus marmoratus marmoratus

“…In these glands, seasonal differences have been observed. In the reproductive period, the total glandular volume and the diameter of the tubular lumen increase significantly, although the epithelial height does not show differences during the reproductive cycle (Romo et al, 1996).…”

“…A preliminary lectin histochemistry study (at light microscopy level) demonstrated very poor affinity for any lectin examined in the ventral glands of T. marmoratus (Romo et al, 1996). In this study, we attempted the ultrastructural characterization of the ventral glands of Triturus marmoratus marmoratus by conventional methods and by lectin cytochemistry.…”

“…There have been several light microscopical studies concerning the cloacal glands of Salamandridae (Sever, 1981(Sever, , 1991(Sever, , 1992, including those of the genus Triturus (Romo et al, 1996;Sever et al, 1990). In these studies, four main types of cloacal glands have been distinguished: pelvic, dorsal, ventral, and Kingsbury's glands (Romo et al, 1996;Sever, 1992).…”

“…In these studies, four main types of cloacal glands have been distinguished: pelvic, dorsal, ventral, and Kingsbury's glands (Romo et al, 1996;Sever, 1992).…”

“…The reproductive cycle displays testicular changes (Sá ez et al, 1989;Tanaka and Iwasawa, 1979), which are associated with changes in the morphology and secretion of the cloacal glands (Romo et al 1996;Sever et al, 1990). In these glands, seasonal differences have been observed.…”