The Herpetological Journal
The Herpetological Journal is the Society's prestigious quarterly scientific journal. Articles are listed in Biological Abstracts, Current Awareness in Biological Sciences,Current Contents, Science Citation Index, and Zoological Record.
ISSN 0268-0130
2021 Impact Factor from Clarivate for the Herpetological Journal is 1.194, an increase of 0.332 from 2020.
pdf 07. New insights about ovarian pigmentation in Anura
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Open Access
https://doi.org/10.33256/hj30.4.222226
pp. 222-226
Authors: Javier Goldberg, Classius De Oliveira & Lilian Franco-Belussi
Abstract: Amphibians have pigmented cells in organs beyond just skin. Their functions involve free radical neutralisation, early innate response, and a relationship with environmental temperature and UV light. In gonads, pigment containing-cells seem to be restricted mainly to the testes and related to sperm production. However, we report for the first time ovarian melanisation in Pseudis minuta and its ontogenetic changes in larval and postmetamorphic stages. Melanin containing-cells on the ovarian surface initially appear at early premetamorphic stages whereas in the cortex they occur later. In consecutive stages, melanin containing-cells were more evident among oocytes but without a clear pattern, being located randomly within the germinal epithelium or in the stroma. Although their function is unclear, a relationship with the fast acquisition of sexual maturity must be further explored.
Keywords: Anuran, germ cells, melanin, ovary, Pseudis minuta
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