Title: Biochemical and histological changes in the respiratory system of Rana catesbeiana larvae during normal and induced metamorphosis
Abstract: The incorporation of amino acids and thymidine into lungs and gills of bullfrog tadpoles were studied during normal and thyroid hormone-induced metamorphosis. During normal metamorphosis both amino acid and thymidine incorporation into gill tissue decrease during the late metamorphic stages. During this time period, histological studies show a reduction in gill vascularity and an increase in the number of melanocytes relative to gill epithelium cells. The rates of amino acid and thymidine incorporation into the lungs in the late metamorphic stages are much higher than in young tadpoles. The lung histology shows an increase in the potential respiratory epithelium by an increase in the number and size of septa during the later metamorphic stages. Thyroid hormone administration to young tadpoles mimics the biochemical changes observed during normal metamorphosis but does not lead to the same morphological changes as observed during normal metamorphosis. The discrepancies between normal and induced metamorphosis are discussed.
Publication Year: 1975
Publication Date: 1975-07-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 35
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