Histological changes of the skin during postembryonic development of the crested newt Triturus ivanbureschi (Urodela, Salamandridae)
Abstract:
Background: Amphibian skin has been studied for many decades, especially the metamorphic changes in
the skin of frogs. Less attention has been paid to salamander skin. Here, we describe changes in the skin
structure during postembryonic development in a salamandrid species, the Balkan crested newt Triturus
ivanbureschi.
Method: Using traditional histological techniques we examined the skin in the trunk region of three premetamorphic
larval stages (hatchling, mid larval and late larval) and two postmetamorphic stages (juvenile,
just after metamorphosis, and adult).
Results: In larval stages, skin consists only of the epidermis, which gradually develops from the single
epithelial cell layer in hatchlings, to a stratified epidermis with gland nests and characteristic Leydig cells at
the late larval stage. During metamorphosis, Leydig cells disappear, and the dermal layer develops. In
postmetamorphic stages, skin is differentiated on stratified epidermis and the dermis with well-developed
glands. Three types of glands were observed in the skin of the postmetamorphic stages: mucous, granular
and mixed. Gland composition appears to be stage- and sex-specific, with juveniles and adult female being
more similar to each other. In juveniles and adult female, there are a similar proportion of glands in both
dorsal and ventral skin, whereas in adult male granular glands dominated the dorsal skin, while mixed
glands dominated the ventral skin.
Conclusion: Our results provide a baseline for future comparative research of skin anatomy in salamanders.
Keywords:
Amphibia; Balkan crested newt; Dermal glands; Histology; Integument; Light microscopySource:
Annals of Anatomy - Anatomischer Anzeiger, 2023, 249, 152097-Funding / projects:
- Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, institutional funding - 200007 (University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković') (RS-MESTD-inst-2020-200007)
- Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, institutional funding - 200178 (University of Belgrade, Faculty of Biology) (RS-MESTD-inst-2020-200178)
- Leiden Univeristy, The Netherlands
DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2023.152097
ISSN: 0940-9602