Toad

About: Toad is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1624 publications have been published within this topic receiving 28732 citations.

Serous cutaneous glands of the western spade-foot toad Pelobates cultripes (Amphibia, Anura): an ultrastructural study on adults and juveniles.

Abstract: The venom glands of the western spade-foot toad Pelobates cultripes were studied under light and electron microscopes. The glands exhibit the structural patterns usual in anurans, including the typical secretory syncytium. The peripheral cytoplasm contains a single row of nuclei and secretory organelles related to proteosynthesis. The inner cytoplasm is filled with large vesicles holding a thin product which originates from the merging of smaller ones containing a thicker material derived from the Golgi apparatus. The appearance and maturation of P. cultripes venom have been compared with patterns of biosynthesis and secretory evolution described in serous cutaneous glands of several anuran species. Following these criteria, the traditional trends in the terminology and classification of serous glands in anuran skin are discussed and reviewed.

The Recessus Olfactorius: A Cryptic Olfactory Organ of Anuran Amphibians

Abstract: The recessus olfactorius is a presumably olfactory structure found on the rostral floor of the main nasal cavity of many anuran amphibians. Nevertheless, it has rarely been investigated or even recognized in the past. The aim of the present study was to broaden the knowledge regarding this enigmatic sensory organ. Therefore, we examined the nasal epithelia of the cane toad Bufo marinus and the fire-bellied toad Bombina orientalis, using histology, scanning electron microscopy and lectin histochemistry.

Substance P-like immunoreactivity in sympathetic ganglion from toad.

Abstract: Substance P-like immunoreactivity cellular in toad sympathetic ganglia was studied in normal and capsaicin-treated ganglia. In the eighth sympathetic ganglion substance P-like immunoreactive are found in mast cells and SIF cells. The effect of substance P (0.001-0.003 mM) caused increase of compound action potential during tetanical stimulation (50 Hz by 40 sec.) and post-tetanic potentiation (0.1 Hz). Our results show that substance P facilitates synaptic transmission in the sympathetic ganglia from Caudiverbera caudiverbera.

Effect of phospholipase C on the permeability of the toad bladder.

Abstract: 1) Using toad bladder, the effects of phospholipase C on the vasopressin-, cyclic AMP-, and theophylline-activated SCC and osmotic flow were examined. The effect of phospholipase C on the vasopressin-activated urea permeability across the toad bladder was also examined. 2) Phospholipase C inhibited the vasopressin-cyclic AMP-, and theophylline-activated osmotic flow of the toad bladder. 3) Phospholipase C did not affect the vasopressin-, cyclic AMP-. and theophylline activated SCC. 4) Phospholipase C caused no effect on vasopressin-induced increment of the urea permeability across the toad bladder membrane. 5) The results suggest that phospholipase C might affect directly the barrier for water, and shows no effect on the barrier for solutes. Some possible characteristics of the barriers are discussed in the point of view of the "double barrier series theory".