THE ENDOCRINE PANCREAS OF ANURAN AMPHIBIANS: A HISTOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL STUDY

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Abstract
The endocrine pancreas of 2 anuran amphibians, the toad (Bufo orientalis) and the frog (Rana temporaria), were studied by means of histological and immunocytochemical techniques. In both species studied, 4 endocrine cell types were identified: insulin (B), glucagon (A), somatostatin (D) and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) cells. These endocrine cells occupied 2.9% in the toad and 3.3% in frog of the total volume of the pancreas. The volume occupied by B, A, D and PP cels in the toad was 31, 31, 7 and 31% of the total volume of the endocrine tissue, respectively. The corresponding figures in the frog were 30, 30, 9 and 30%. There was no difference in the topographic distribution of these cells in both species under study. Double immunostaining by peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) technique, simultaneous demonstration of 2 hormones using PAP and indirect immunofluorescence techniques and staining of consecutive sections showed that 3 glucagon/PP cell types occur in the pancreas of the toad and the frog. The 1st cell type showed glucagon immunoreactivity, the 2nd exhibited PP immunoreactivity and the 3rd disclosed both glucagon and PP immunoreactivity.