Summary
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1.
The fine structure of photoreceptoral, neural, and supportive elements in the frontal and pineal organs (stirnorgan and epiphysis) of young larvae of the Pacific Treefrog, Hyla regilla, is described and figured with electron micrographs. Especially noteworthy is the variation in the outer segments of the photoreceptoral processes in both organs: e.g., linear arrangement of discs like that in rods and cones, whorls of membranes, and unpatterned disposition of tubules and cisternae.
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2.
The frontal and pineal organs of illuminated and dark-adapted tadpoles were studied for differences in ultrastructure and in PAS-positive material believed to be glycogen at least in part. The dark-adapted stirnorgan had a significantly greater amount of PAS-positive material and more cytoplasmic granules (glycogen ?) than the light-adapted frontal organ. Differences in the amount of PAS-positive material in the pineal and subcommissural organs of dark versus light-treated animals were not statistically significant.
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3.
Assay of 5-hydroxy and 5-methoxy indoles in frontal organs and in meninges (control tissue) of young tadpoles by spectrofluorometry provided no evidence that the stirnorgan contains melatonin or its precursors even in 100 pooled organs.
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The functional significance of our findings is discussed. In the light of this and other studies we conclude that the stirnorgan is a photoreceptive organ and that the amphibian larval pineal organ is probably light-sensitive. What use the organism makes of the information transmitted by these organs via their neural tracts and possibly by secretory products is not yet evident.
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This investigation was supported by a grant-in-aid from the National Science Foundation. One of us (RME) held an appointment in the Miller Institute for Basic Research in Science of the University of California during part of the study. Grateful acknowledgment is made to Victor Duran, University Photographer; Emily E. Reid, artist; Martha Jordan, Roberta Heil and Patricia Baker, research assistants.
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Eakin, R.M., Quay, W.B. & Westfall, J.A. Cytological and cytochemical studies on the frontal and pineal organs of the treefrog, Hyla regilla . Z. Zellforsch. 59, 663–683 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00319064
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00319064