Skin gland concentrations adapted to different evolutionary pressures in the head and posterior regions of the caecilian Siphonops annulatus

Scientific Reports
Carlos JaredMarta Maria Antoniazzi

Abstract

Amphibian skin is rich in mucous glands and poison glands, secreting substances important for gas exchange and playing a fundamental role in chemical defense against predators and microorganisms. In the caecilian Siphonops annulatus (Mikan, 1920) we observed a concentration of enlarged mucous glands in the head region. In the posterior region of the body a similar concentration is made up of enlarged poison glands. These accumulations of glands structurally resemble the macroglands previously reported in anurans and salamanders. The skin glands in these regions are each surrounded by collagen walls forming a honeycomb-like structure. The collagen network in the head region firmly attaches to tiny pits in the bones of the skull. The two extremities of the body produce different secretions, containing exclusive molecules. Considering the fossorial lifestyle of caecilians, it seems evident that the secretions of the head and caudal region serve different functions. The anterior macrogland of mucous glands, rich in mucous/lipid secretion, in conjunction with the funnel-shaped head, may act to lubricate the body and penetrate the soil, thus facilitating locomotion underground. The blunt posterior end bearing an internalized macrogla...Continue Reading

References

Jan 27, 1999·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·E N SchwartzE G Mendes
Apr 18, 2001·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·G DelfinoF Giachi
Aug 26, 2003·Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research = Revista Brasileira De Pesquisas Médicas E Biológicas·E F SchwartzL C Salomão
Apr 21, 2009·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·Carlos JaredMiguel T Rodrigues
Oct 17, 2013·Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part A, Ecological Genetics and Physiology·Pedro L Mailho-FontanaCarlos Jared
Aug 11, 2015·Current Biology : CB·Carlos JaredEdmund D Brodie
Feb 27, 2017·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·Pedro L Mailho-FontanaCarlos Jared
Aug 2, 2017·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·Eduardo Regis-AlvesCarlos Jared

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Citations

Jan 24, 2019·BMC Evolutionary Biology·Carla BarduaAnjali Goswami
Jun 19, 2019·Frontiers in Zoology·Julian K A LangowskiJohan L van Leeuwen
Jul 29, 2020·BMC Genomics·María Torres-SánchezDiego San Mauro
Jul 6, 2020·IScience·Pedro Luiz Mailho-FontanaCarlos Jared
Oct 1, 2020·Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences·Damodaran ArunLekha Divya

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
electrophoresis

Software Mentioned

LAS
Image Pro Express

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