Histology of the dorsal skin and pouch of Gastrotheca marsupiata (Duméril y Bibron) (Anura, Hylidae)

Abstract

Histology of the dorsal skin and pouch of Gastrotheca marsupiata (Duméril y Bibron) (Anura, Hylidae)?. We make a histomorphologic and histochemical study of the tegument of the dorsal skin and marsupial pouch of Gastrotheca marsupiata (Duméril y Bibron) employing techniques for optic microscopy. Experimentally we provoked the development of the pouch by adminisering strogen. We describe the morphology of epidermis and dermis. We notice glandular types, cromatophor disposition, dermic fibrilar element organization, vascularization and nervous components. By means of histochemical techniques we sort out gland types and secretion characterization and detect two types of mucous glands in addition to serous glands. We likewise detect the presence of a layer of smooth muscle with a greter development in the region of the marsupial pouch opening.