Distribution of FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity in the amphibian brain: comparative analysis

FMRFamide is a small neuropeptide present in particular neurons of the basal forebrain and midbrain of the vertebrate groups studied, especially fishes and mammals. In order to assess interspecies variation, the distribution of FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity was studied in the brains of 13 species of amphibian. Although FMRFamide-immunoreactive (IR) terminals occurred throughout much of the brain, IR cell groups were noted in circumscribed regions of the CNS. In the eight anuran species studied, two major populations of labeled perikarya were observed: one in the septopreoptic area and another one in the caudal portion of the diencephalon. The rostrocaudal extent of both and the number of labeled somata in each neuronal group displayed species-specific differences. In urodeles and gymnophiones, labeled perikarya were located in the diencephalon, but there were remarkable species differences in the number of such cells. It is discussed whether sex or season of collection may account for some of the differences observed. The distribution of FMRFamide-IR perikarya, fibers, and pathways in the brain of anurans, urodeles, and gymnophiones was compared. The existence of FMRFamide perikarya in the anterior preoptic neuropil and medial septum appeared to be a feature common to all anurans; labeled neurons in the dorsal thalamus, however, may be present only in the (viviparous) gymnophione Typhlonectes compressicauda. Cerebrospinal fluid contacting FMRFamide neuronal cell bodies and fibers were observed in each of the three taxonomic orders. The data are compared with those previously obtained for other groups of vertebrates.

The emergence of pigment cell biology: a personal view

This is a semi-autobiographical coverage of my research career in pigment cell biology presented in the context of the emergence and growth of the discipline. This anecdotal presentation tells about some historical personages in the field. My undergraduate studies at the University of Rochester are related to my graduate work at the University of Iowa. I tell how my dissertation research was derived from a marriage between my interests in experimental embryology and the new field of comparative endocrinology. My early years of research at Iowa and as a young faculty member in Zoology at the University of Arizona were much concerned with the evolution of our knowledge of the chemistry and biology of melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), especially concerning the pigment cells of lower vertebrates. Our developmental, structural, functional, and biochemical characterization of vertebrate chromatophores is described, as is our elucidation of the dermal chromatophore unit. The direct effects of light on changes in pigmentation are considered in descriptions of both the tail-darkening reaction and the role of the pineal gland in melanophore control. Emphasis is placed on the developmental biology of pigmentation, especially on the concept that all pigment cells are derived in common from a stem cell of neural-crest origin, whose expression is influenced by factors, such as melanization-inhibiting factor (MIF), localized in specific areas of the skin to thus produce specific pigmentation patterns. This research is considered in light of what is known about the agouti locus and MSH in the expression of mammalian pigmentation patterns. Part of my work has included ecological considerations, and some of this is touched upon. My role as founder of the journal 'Pigment Cell Research', is presented briefly, as is my involvement in the XIIIth International Pigment Cell Conference and in the establishment of both the International Pigment Cell Society and the International Federation of Pigment Cell Societies. Finally, I comment on the future of research in pigmentation.

Insights into pigmentary phenomena provided by grafting and chimera formation in the axolotl

The expression of pigmentation patterns in axolotl pigmentary mutants was observed following three types of experimental manipulations including chimera formation, reciprocal neural crest grafts, of gonadal primordia. Three pigmentary genes were utilized including the wild type (D), white (d), and albino (a). In chimeras between white and albino embryos, melanoblasts from the white half crossed the graft interface to differentiate in albino skin. Neural crest grafts from white embryos to albinos provided melanophores of white origin that were capable of differentiation in albino skin. Grafts of gonadal primordia from albino to white embryos provided albino germ cells that formed unpigmented ovocytes together with dark ovocytes: white ovocytes from the albino grafted ovary, and dark ovocytes from the host ovary. The donor albino white ectoderm included in the graft was able to support the differentiation of melanophores, iridophores, and xanthophores that invaded the graft ectoderm from the neural crest of the white host. It was concluded that manifestation of the white or wild phenotypes may be related to the possible presence or absence of inhibiting or stimulating pigmentary factors in the skin. This possibility was discussed in the light of recent discoveries of such factors as Agouti Signaling Protein (ASP) from mammalian skin.

The amphibian melanization inhibiting factor (MIF) blocks the alpha-MSH effect on mouse malignant melanocytes

We have found that a melanization inhibitory factor (MIF) extracted from the ventral skin of Rana forreri has a slight inhibitory effect on the activity levels of tyrosinase and dopachrome tautomerase in B16/F10 and Cloudman S-91 murine melanoma cell lines. Furthermore, this factor appears to block the effects of alpha-MSH on these enzymatic activities. However, MIF treatment does not affect the melanogenic action of theophylline on the same cells, suggesting that MIF acts proximal to MSH-mediated cAMP formation, possibly by interaction with the MSH receptor. In this way, we show that this amphibian factor has biological activity on mammalian melanocytes. This suggests the existence of mammalian counterparts of amphibian MIF in the mouse integument that might regulate epidermal melanocytes. These peptides might be related to the agouti protein, as they share similar mechanisms of action. The interaction of different peptides with the MSH receptor would be a complex but general mechanism responsible for many mammalian coat color variants.

Reproduction in the Mexican leaf frog, Pachymedusa dacnicolor. VI. Presence and distribution of multiple GnRH forms in the brain

The presence and distribution of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) has been investigated in the Mexican leaf frog, Pachymedusa dacnicolor, brain during development and in the adult. The ontogenetic pattern of GnRH neurons illustrates their extracranial as well as intracranial sites. Immunohistochemical analysis indicates that GnRH-immunoreactive neurons appear during the metamorphic climax. They are located in the mesencephalon and subsequently other GnRH neurons appear in the peripheral terminal nerve and anterior preoptic area of the brain. Use of specific antisera and homologous combined with heterologous preabsorption tests indicate that mammalian and chicken GnRH-II-like peptide-containing neurons are differentially located within the brain, the former in the anterior preoptic area and peripheral terminal nerve and the latter in the mesencephalon. HPLC and RIA data suggest the presence of three forms of immunoreactive GnRH in the P. dacnicolor brain. A mammalian GnRH-like molecule and a chicken GnRH-II-like molecule are present. A third form, suspected to be [hydroxyproline9]mGnRH elutes before the mammalian GnRH.

Evidence that MIF plays a role in the development of pigmentation patterns in the frog

A ventrally localized melanization-inhibiting factor (MIF) may play an important role in the expression of dorsal-ventral pigment patterns of amphibians. In efforts to purify this putative MIF, ventral skin conditioned medium (VCM) from Rana forreri was partially fractionated and used to immunize mice. A monoclonal antibody that has the ability to block the activity of MIF was isolated, and an immunoaffinity matrix was prepared by cross-linking the antibody to protein G-Sepharose. The fraction of VCM that bound to the affinity matrix decreased the number of melanized cells in the Xenopus laevis neural tube explant assay, but did not reduce significantly the number of cells that emigrated. The monoclonal antibody was used for immunohistochemical studies on R. pipiens skin. Strong staining with the antibody was observed beneath the basement membrane, in mucous glands, and in the subcutaneous tissue of the ventral skin. A weak staining was also observed in the ground substances of both ventral and dorsal skin. These results confirm that a monoclonal antibody has been secured against at least one of the MIF constituents and that it is useful as a probe in detecting the distribution of MIF in tissues. The results of its use in this study support the hypothesis that MIF plays a role in the expression, development, and maintenance of the dorsal-ventral pigmentation patterns of frogs.

Melanization stimulating activity in the skin of the gilthead porgy, Sparus auratus

The presence of a melanization-stimulating factor (MSF) was discovered in dorsal and/or ventral skin of Sparus auratus. Skin from this marine species was used to condition Steinberg's balanced salt solution (BSS), which was subsequently tested with the neural tube assay. BBS conditioned by dorsal and/or ventral skin of S. auratus at 25% and 50% concentrations had a profound stimulatory effect on the percentage of melanization of neural crest cells throughout the 3-day assay period. In some cases 90% melanization occurred within the first 24 hr. Such stimulated cells showed a doubling of the number of dendrites per cell. To assess the effects of MSF on other indices of melanization, dorsal and/or ventral skin was used to condition MEM used in the culture of B16-F10 murine melanoma cells. During the first 24 hr, B16-F10 murine melanoma cells responded to conditioned media by demonstrating a considerable increase in activities of tyrosine hydroxylase, dopa oxidase, and dopachrome tautomerase, but no effect was observed on melanin content. In contrast, melanin content increased after 48 hr of incubation, whereas the enzymatic activities were inhibited during this period. It seems that MSF activity, expressed in several ways, may be present generally among marine species.

Observations on the development of unusual melanization of leopard frog ventral skin

The ontogeny of ventral pigmentation of two species of leopard frog, Rana pipiens and R. chiricahuensis, was examined by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to reveal how the unusual melanistic ventral pigmentation of R. chiricahuensis is achieved at the cellular level. Ventral skin of R. pipiens is always white. Ventral skin of adult R. chiricahuensis is white when frogs are background-adapted to a white substrate, but ventral skin becomes nearly as dark colored as the dorsal skin when frogs darken in response to a black background. Skin samples from tadpoles of both species, newly metamorphosed frogs, and adult frogs were analyzed for chromatophore composition and distribution. Ventral skin of R. pipiens larvae, newly metamorphosed frogs, and adults and of R. chiricahuensis larvae was white due to abundant iridophores and no melanophores. Melanophore density in the ventral integument of R. chiricahuensis was 9.1 +/- 2.8/mm2 in newly metamorphosed frogs and 87.0 +/- 4.8/mm2 in adult frogs. Pigment within ventral melanophores migrated during physiological color change during background adaptation.

Pigment cell refugia in homeotherms--the unique evolutionary position of the iris

Homeotherms are generally considered to lack classical active dermal pigment cells (chromatophores) in their integument, attributable to the development of an outer covering coat of hair or feathers. However, bright colored dermal pigment cells, comparable to chromatophores of lower vertebrates, are found in the irides of many birds. We propose that, because of its exposed location, the iris is an area in which color from pigment cells has sustained a selective advantage and appears to have evolved independently of the general integument. In birds, the iris appears to have retained the potential for the complete expression of all dermal chromatophore types. Differences in cell morphology and the presence of unusual pigments in birds are suggested to be the result of evolutionary changes that followed the divergence of birds from reptiles. By comparison, mammals appear to have lost the potential for producing iridophores, xanthophores, or erythrophores comparable to those of lower vertebrates, even though some species possess brightly colored irides. It is proposed that at least one species of mammal (the domestic cat) has recruited a novel iridial reflecting pigment organelle originally developed in the choroidal tapetum lucidum. The potential presence of classical chromatophores in mammals remains open, as few species with bright irides have been examined.

Extracellular matrix constituents and pigment cell expression in primary cell culture

Three types of pigment cells were isolated and cultured from larval Rana pipiens, and their attachment, maintenance, and proliferation were examined in the presence of extracellular matrix constituents (ECMs) in primary cell culture. The initial profile of pigment cell types present on day 2 of culture reflects the relative attachment of the cells to the dishes. Changes in the numbers of cells present after day 2 reflects the influence of factors present in the culture media on the maintenance, proliferation, or detachment of each type of pigment cell. Fetal bovine serum (FBS) promoted melanophore expression, but inhibited iridophore expression. FBS had no effect on xanthophores. In contrast, ventral skin conditioned medium (VCM), which contains melanization inhibiting factor, strongly stimulated iridophore expression, while it markedly inhibited melanophore expression. VCM had little effect on xanthophores. Of the ECMs tested, collagen type I had no effect on pigment cells. Fibronectin slightly inhibited melanophore expression, while it moderately stimulated iridophores and xanthophores. The stimulatory effect of fibronectin was not as strong as that of FBS or VCM. Laminin was also tested; however, it did not allow pigment cells to attach to the dishes, at least under the culture conditions utilized. The results of these experiments are discussed in terms of the general mechanisms of pigment pattern formation.

Intrinsic Pigment-Cell Stimulating Activity in the Catfish Integument

In keeping with the concept that local factors in the vertebrate integument affect the expression of pigment cells, the present study was directed toward demonstrating the existence of such factors in the skin of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. This species has a dark dorsal surface in marked contrast to an almost white midventral surface. Pieces of skin from these two surfaces were used to condition culture media, which were in turn bioassayed using the Xenopus neural tube explant system (Fukuzawa and Ide, 1988, Dev. Biol. 129:25). A certain number of neural crest cells grow out from the explant, and many of these are melanized in a culture medium of Steinberg's basic salt solution (BSS). When the BSS was conditioned with either dorsal or ventral skin, a profound increase in both the number of crest cells emigrated from the neural tubes and the percentage of melanized cells was observed. The effects of dorsal skin were stronger than those of ventral skin and were evident on a dose/response basis. Initial fractionation of conditioned BSS with DEAE ion exchange chromatography produced fractions of particular potency in the stimulation of melanogenesis. A similarly conditioned medium based upon Leibovitz's L-15 was used in the primary culture of mature chromatophores, namely, melanophores, iridophores, and xanthophores from tadpoles of Rana pipiens. Both dorsal and ventral conditioned media stimulated iridophores and xanthophores, but seemed to have little or no effect on tadpole melanophores. A melanization inhibiting factor (MIF) from the ventral surface of adult frogs has been suggested as the basis for the light colored ventrum of amphibians, and although the present experiments were not designed to study catfish MIF, the possible existence of such a factor in this species was supported by the results. The total results of this investigation are discussed in the light of the possible presence of a melanization inhibiting factor (MIF) of greater prevalence in the ventrum and a melanization stimulatory factor (MSF) of greater prevalence in the dorsal integument. It is suggested that the light-colored ventral surface of the catfish and other poikilotherms may result from the presence of higher levels of MIF than MSF. Thus, the expression of melanophores is inhibited while that of iridophores is enhanced. In contrast, higher levels of MSF over MIF in the dark dorsal surface would result in melanophore stimulation and inhibition of iridophore expression.

Intrinsic pigment cell stimulating activity in the skin of the leopard frog, Rana pipiens

Consistent with the concept that specific pigment patterns of amphibians might result from the highly localized distribution of stimulators and inhibitors of pigment cell expression in the skin, the spot pattern of the leopard frog, Rana pipiens, was examined through the use of the Xenopus neural tube explant assay system (Fukuzawa and Ide, 1988). Media conditioned with pieces of skin from dorsal black spotted areas promoted melanization of neural crest cells at a significantly higher level than did media conditioned with dorsal interspot skin in the absence of extra tyrosine. All conditioned media contained exceedingly low concentrations of tyrosine. With the addition of supplemental tyrosine, the melanization capacity of conditioned media from the interspot areas was elevated to that of the spotted skin. Control media conditioned with ventral frog skin inhibited melanization, as usual, because of the presumed presence of melanization inhibiting factor (MIF). It is considered that dorsal skin contains a melanization stimulating factor (MSF) which is present in significantly higher levels in spotted skin than in interspot areas and that expression of the particular pigmentary pattern of this leopard frog is regulated by the relative distribution of MIF, MSF, and possibly other intrinsic substances present in the skin.

Preliminary biological characterization of a melanization stimulating factor (MSF) from the dorsal skin of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus

A two step fractionation of conditioned media made from the darkly pigmented dorsal skin of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, has produced fractions that contain a melanization stimulating factor (MSF). Isolated neural tubes of Xenopus laevis embryos exposed to conditioned media and to specific fractions exhibit greater melanization (increased numbers of melanized cells and elevated percentages of melanized cells), a greater number of dendrites per melanized cell, and a greater number of emigrated neural crest cells than control neural tubes. The presence of MSF activity in the darkly pigmented dorsal integument suggests a role for a molecule or molecules in the development and maintenance of the dorsal/ventral pigment pattern of this piscine species and possibly of other vertebrates.

Reproduction in the Mexican leaf frog, Pachymedusa dacnicolor. V. Immunohistochemical localization of gonadotropin-releasing hormone in the brain

The presence and distribution of immunoreactive gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in brains of adult male and female Pachymedusa dacnicolor has been studied immunohistochemically using antisera against mammalian, chicken-II, and salmon GnRHs. The distribution map of the immunoreactive-GnRH elements in the brain of P. dacnicolor is extremely simple, being limited to the anterior preoptic area-infundibulum-median eminence circuit. No sex- or reproductive status-related difference in either the distribution pattern or intensity of immunoreaction was revealed in this study. This is also the first immunohistochemical evidence of the presence of different structural forms of GnRH in the brain of an amphibian.

Effect of background color and low temperature on skin color and circulating alpha-MSH in two species of leopard frog

Circulating levels of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) in two species of leopard frog, Rana pipiens and R. chiricahuensis, were measured by radioimmunoassay to reveal the correlation between skin color change induced by background color and by low temperature. High levels of alpha-MSH were found in both species of frog on a black background, but R. chiricahuensis had eight times higher levels than R. pipiens, R. chiricahuensis also exhibited the ability to darken its ventral surface, whereas the ventral surface of R. pipiens remained white. Neither skin color nor plasma alpha-MSH of R. pipiens was affected by cold. Low temperature did, however, darken dorsal and ventral skin of R. chiricahuensis in vivo, which corresponded to increased levels of plasma alpha-MSH. Dorsal and ventral skin of R. chiricahuensis, in vitro, darken in a dose-dependent manner to alpha-MSH, but not to cold.

Stimulation of cultured iridophores by amphibian ventral conditioned medium

That the ventral integument of adult frogs (Rana pipiens) contains factor(s) that stimulate iridophore expression (adhesion, morphologic appearance, proliferation) was demonstrated on iridophores derived from tadpoles of R. pipiens and Pachymedusa dacnicolor, and maintained in primary culture in a growth medium based upon Leibovitz's L-15. Experimental growth medium (VCM) conditioned by a one-hour exposure to pieces of ventral skin of adult R. pipiens induced iridophores to assume a broad and stellate appearance, to form confluent sheets, and to proliferate over a nine-day period. Iridophores in control medium assumed long thin profiles, detached easily, and exhibited no signs of proliferation. Unknown cells containing reflecting platelets and unusual other organelles appeared uniquely in chromatophore cultures of P. dacnicolor in VCM. The intense stimulation of iridophore expression in VCM is consistent with the known inhibitory effect of this medium on melanization and with its purported role in the determination of dorsal/ventral pigment patterns of amphibians. The results are discussed in terms of a prevailing theory about pigment cell origins and development.

Control of melanoblast differentiation in amphibia by alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone, a serum melanization factor, and a melanization inhibiting factor

A ventrally localized melanization inhibiting factor (MIF) has been suggested to play an important role in the establishment of the dorsal-ventral pigment pattern in Xenopus laevis [Fukuzawa and Ide:Dev. Biol., 129:25-36, 1988]. To examine the possibility that melanoblast expression might be controlled by local putative MIF and melanogenic factors, the effects of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), a serum melanization factor (SMF) from X. laevis or Rana pipiens, and MIF on the "outgrowth" and "melanization" of Xenopus neural crest cells were studied. Outgrowth represents the number of neural crest cells emigrating from cultured neural tubes, and melanization concerns the percentage of differentiated melanophores among the emigrated cells. MSH or SMF stimulate both outgrowth and melanization. The melanogenic effect of Xenopus serum in this system is more than twice that of Rana serum. The actions of MSH and Xenopus serum on melanization seem to be different: 1) Stronger melanization is induced by Xenopus serum than by MSH, and the onset of melanization occurs earlier with Xenopus serum; 2) MSH stimulates melanization only in the presence of added tyrosine; and 3) MSH causes young melanophores to assume a prominent state of melanophore dispersion during culture, while Xenopus serum (10%) had only a slight dispersing effect and not until day 3. A fraction of Xenopus serum presumably containing molecules of a smaller molecular weight (MW less than 30 kDa) than that of a pigment promoting factor reported in calf serum [Jerdan et al.: J. Cell Biol., 100:1493-1498, 1985] produces the same remarkable melanogenic effects as does intact serum. While this fraction stimulates outgrowth, another fraction presumably containing larger molecules (MW greater than 100 kDa) does not. MIF contained in Xenopus ventral skin conditioned medium (VCM) inhibits both outgrowth and melanization dose dependently. When VCM is used in combination with MSH, the stimulating effects of MSH on both outgrowth and melanization are completely inhibited. In contrast, the stimulatory effects of Xenopus serum are not completely inhibited when combined with VCM, although melanization is reduced to approximately 40% that of controls. MIF activity was also found to be present in ventral, but not in dorsal, skin conditioned media of R. pipiens when tested in the Xenopus neural crest system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Chromatophoromas in a pine snake

Iridophoroma and melanophoroma were diagnosed in an adult male pine snake. Light microscopic examination of irregularly thickened white and black portions of abnormal scales demonstrated two distinctive populations of pigment-containing cells. Pigment cells within abnormal-appearing white scales had needle-shaped granules that were dark amber in color while black portions were composed of pigment cells typical of melanophores, with dark black, round granules. Both populations of cells showed junctional activity, and clusters of both neoplastic pigment cell types were found in adjoining areas of the epidermis. By electron microscopy, the pigment cell with amber-colored granules contained reflecting platelet profiles typical of iridophores while pigment cells with dark round granules contained melanosomes. At a junctional area between abnormal white and black scales, mosaic chromatophores containing reflecting platelet profiles and melanosomes were observed. At 1 1/2 years following initial diagnosis, the snake died and neoplastic iridophores were found at multiple visceral sites; there was no evidence of metastases of melanophores to any organ. The two pigment cell tumors are believed to have developed from either stem cells destined to become iridophores and melanophores or from prexisting iridophores and melanophores in the dermis.

Isolation and structure of a novel pyridine derivative from the Algerian newt, Pleurodeles waltlii

Since its discovery more than 20 years ago the structure of a strongly fluorescent compound called "pleurodeles blue" has remained unknown. Isolation of this pigment has been carried out by successive column chromatographies including epichlorohydrin-triethanolamine-Sephadex and phospho-Sephadex. The structural elucidation of a novel pyridone N-glycoside, 1-beta-D-glucopyranosylpyrid-2(1H)-one-6-acetic acid, is based on a detailed study of its high-resolution mass spectra, 1H and 13C-NMR spectra and its hydrolysis to yield D-glucose.

Reproduction in the Mexican leaf frog, Pachymedusa dacnicolor. III. The female

The female of the Mexican leaf frog, Pachymedusa dacnicolor, displays a marked annual ovarian cycle. This consists of a long period of vitellogenic stasis, starting in early fall, soon after the breeding season, and ending in early spring. Oogonial proliferation continues throughout the year and new previtellogenic follicles are formed continuously. During the period of vitellogenesis, from spring to early summer, early, advanced, and postvitellogenic follicles are all found together, a situation that continues through the breeding season. This is correlated with the fact that a breeding female can lay three or more clutches per season. Breeding can begin as early as June and end as late as early September, with peak spawning activity taking place during July and August. An examination of the ovarian hormone secretion pattern in P. dacnicolor during the year revealed that plasma levels of testosterone and estradiol correlated with ovarian growth and attained highest levels in amplectant and ovulating females. Both hormones showed quite similar plasma levels and patterns of change during the annual reproductive cycle. Lowest plasma levels of testosterone and estradiol were found during fall and winter, in females possessing exclusively previtellogenic ovarian follicles. Plasma progesterone levels were maintained at a very low level throughout the year, except for the ovulatory surge, when amplectant and ovulating females may show a three- to sixfold increase. Plasma androstenedione showed a low peak during this phase of the reproductive cycle. Plasma levels of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone were 13 to 30 times lower than plasma testosterone levels. The potential roles of these gonadal steroids in controlling ovarian activity and reproduction are discussed briefly.

Reproduction in the Mexican leaf frog, Pachymedusa dacnicolor. II. The male

The Mexican leaf frog, Pachymedusa dacnicolor, an inhabitant of the semiarid, subtropical Mexican lowlands, displays a well-defined seasonal testicular cycle. Testis weight seems to be a reliable index of the reproductive status of the animal and plasma levels of androgens (testosterone, T; 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, DHT; androstenedione, A) correlate not only with testicular growth, but with callosity development, reproductive behavior, and breeding. During the fall and winter, testis weight reaches its minimum as do plasma concentrations of T, DHT, A, and estradiol-17 beta (E). Plasma levels of progesterone (P) are maintained at a very low level throughout the year. During the fall and winter, spermatogenesis is almost entirely absent and the callosities are white and smooth. No signs of reproductive behavior (calling and amplexus) are evident. Late spring marks the initiation of spermatogenesis, testis weight increase, darkening of callosities, and increase in plasma levels of androgens. The magnitude of callosity development and the onset of calling and amplectant behavior are correlated with a great rise in plasma androgen levels. Although plasma T concentrations were higher than plasma levels of DHT and A, this androgen failed to stimulate the development of callosities and calling behavior in successfully castrated males.

Yolk pigments of the Mexican leaf frog

Eggs of the Mexican leaf frog contain blue and yellow pigments identified as biliverdin and lutein, respectively. Both pigments are bound to proteins that occur in crystalline form in the yolk platelet. The major blue pigment is biliverdin IX alpha. The eggs vary in color from brilliant blue to pale yellow-green depending on the amount of each pigment. These pigments may provide protective coloration to the eggs.

Electron microscopic study of leaf frog melanophore differentiation in culture, with special reference to allopurinol effect on pterorhodin formation

Melanophores in the skin from metamorphic climax tadpoles can produce pterorhodin autonomously in culture. Thyroxine neither accelerated synthesis nor increased the amount of pterorhodin deposited. Cytoplasmic events attendant to the transformation of the larval melanosome in vitro were like those that occur in vivo. These include the uplifting of the melanosomal limiting membrane, the presence of many small cytoplasmic vesicles that can fuse with the limiting membrane, and the gradual deposition of pterorhodin flocculations on the melanin surface starting at age 25, the completion of metamorphic climax. Allopurinol inhibits pterohodin synthesis in melanophores in skin culture. It is proposed that the autonomous transformation of larval melanosomes to the pterorhodin-containing adult type is based upon a preprogramming that occurs near the onset of metamorphic climax. This preprogramming involves the uptake of elements necessary for pterorhodin biosynthesis and implicates current theory concerning the origin of pigment cells.

Phagocytic activity of the stellate cells in the anuran pars intermedia

In an attempt to study further the stellate cell and its functions, the ultrastructure of this cell type in the neurointermediate lobe of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, was examined in both organ and dissociated-cell culture. The cytoplasmic activity of stellate cells from neurointermediate lobes incubated 3 1/2 or 5 1/2 h was greater than that of those in vivo. Mitochondria and bundles of cytoplasmic filaments were numerous, in addition to prominent, well-developed Golgi complexes with associated vesicles. The most striking ultrastructural feature was the presence of phagocytic vacuoles that contain cellular debris. The stellate cells were seen to form cytoplasmic processes that phagocytosed this extracellular debris identifiable as belonging to the secretory cells of the pars intermedia. The stellate cells from the dissociated-cell preparations were also seen to contain debris within phagocytic vacuoles. In those neurointermediate lobes transplanted for 3 1/2 to 4 days into the anterior chamber of the eye, the stellate cells demonstrated similar phagocytic ability, but the phagocytic vacuoles contained material that seemed to be at a later stage of degradation. In all three of these conditions, the stellate cells were not seen to release this cellular debris nor were they seen to undergo cell division. These glial-like stellate cells of the pars intermedia acted as macrophages in all three of these experiments. There is now, therefore, a need to determine under what conditions, if any, these stellate cells function in vivo as macrophages.

The differentiation of leaf frog melanophores in culture

During early larval development of mexican leaf frog, Pachymedusa dacnicolor, dermal melanophores are typically black, but a few brown melanophores appear about stage 18. During metamorphic climax brown melanophores begin to dominate and by stage 23 they are the exclusive type. The synthesis of the pigment, a red pteridine-dimer, occurred in the melanophores of organ-cultured back skin isolated from tadpoles. The development of this pigmentation in organ culture was independent of thyroxine at least after the onset of metamorphic climax (stage 19). Isolated melanophores in cell culture conditions proliferated only in the presence of MSH, but even these proliferating melanophores, if derived from larvae of stage 21 or younger, showed no indication of pterorhodin synthesis. Melanophores derived from a stage 22 larva and cultured for 18 days synthesized and deposited pterorhodin.

Allopurinol-induced melanism in the tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum nebulosum)

The enzyme, xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH), has been examined in Ambystoma tigrinum nebulosum with respect to its role in pigmentation. It now seems probable that the melanoid gene (m) either codes directly for XDH or is somehow intimately connected with the normal function of this enzyme. Inhibition of XDH using the drug, allopurinol, results in animals which appear to be phenocopies of melanoid mutants as described for the Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum). The effects of allopurinol in terms of specific pigmentary alterations were examined, and a new method for analyzing heterogeneous extracts of skin pigments (e.g., purines and pteridines) is presented. The significance of the link between XDH and melanism is discussed with emphasis on possible mechanisms of pigment induction and general applicability to biological systems.

Common origin of pigment cells

The fundamentally diverse vertebrate pigment cells, melanophores, xanthophores, and iridophores, contain pigmentary organelles known, respectively, as melanosomes, pterinosomes, and reflecting platelets. Their pigments are mealanins pteridines, and purines. Mosaic pigment cells containing more than one type of organelle have been observed and mosaic organelles containing more than one type of pigment have been discovered. It is proposed that the various pigment cells are derived from a stem cell that contains a primordial organelle of endoplasmic reticular origin. This primordial organelle can differentiate into any of the known pigmentary organelles.

Extravascular transfer within the anuran pars intermedia

To study the transport of protein from the blood into and throughout the sparsely vascularized pars intermedia of anurans, the electrondense tracer, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was injected into the vascular system of adult frogs. A strong reaction product was localized in small vesicles in the cytoplasm of that portion of the stellate cells immediately beneath the vascular spaces. Also, within two minutes after an injection of HRP, which was given during a period of one minute, the reaction product was seen in the extracellular spaces between the stellate and/or MSH secretory cells throughout the gland. Additionally, it appeared that HRP was pinocytosed by the stellate cell processes in the interior of the pars intermedia. Since frogs adapted to different backgrounds were perfused with HRP for a variety of time periods, from 3 to 90 min, it was thought that it would be possible to trace the pathway of the HRP-filled vesicles as they moved through the stellate cells. There did not appear to be a migration of these vesicles within the cells. Because of the electron density of the HRP, the tortuous extensions from the perivascular spaces of the capillary plexus intermedius were obvious as they ramified into the pars intermedia and pars nervosa. In the frogs not injected with HRP, it was possible to observe the substructure of these ramifications which paralleled the stellate cells and formed enlargements at the convergence of the stellate cell processes and sometimes the nerve processes. An extravascular, many-branched transport system that penetrates the parenchyma is discussed in addition to the possible transfer role of the stellate cells.

Color changes, unusual melanosomes, and a new pigment from leaf frogs

Melanosomes of phyllomedusid frogs are unusually large and are composed of an amorphous matrix of thick fibers. Their hitherto undescribed dark red pigment is neither phaeomelanin nor eumelanin, but seems to be related to melanins. Melanophores of at least one of these species, Agalychnis dacnicolor, exhibit color change in direct response to illumination, and it is suggested that these chromatophores are innervated.