The sexual dimorphic inguinal glands of the frog species Ololygon centralis (Anura: Hylidae) at light and transmission electron microscopy

By

Brito, Pedro
Targueta, Cíntia P.
Arruda, Walquíria
Santos, Fernanda
Bastos, Rogério

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2019-7-5

Original Publication

Nature conservation

Volume

36

Pages

1--9

Subjects

Histochemistry , Morphology , serous gland , Skin

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers 2012-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zoologia.36.e29356

 

Abstract

The anuran skin characteristically has different types of glands, most of which are microscopic and are spread throughout the skin. Some species have specialized regions where glands agglomerate, forming macroglands. The description of the external morphology ofOlolygoncentralis(Pombal & Bastos, 1996) revealed the presence of an inguinal gland.Ololygoncentralisis the only species of the genus that has a macrogland. The present study found these inguinal macroglands to be present only on male specimens, thus characterizing it as a sexually dimorphic skin gland. Microscopic analysis revealed that these glands are composed of many syncytial units involved by myoepithelial cells. The center of the syncytium is full of a proteinaceous secretion with a basic pH and the absence of sugar residues. Similar glands observed in other anuran species have been associated with pheromone production, suggesting that the inguinal glands described forO.centralismales may have a similar function.