• The Korean Journal of Zoology
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.221-231
• /
• 1989

The histochemical characteristics of the cutaneous mucous glands and its fine structure of the Korean fire bellied toad, Bombina orientolis Boulenger, were studied with light and electron microscopes. The mucous glands of the toad are simple alveolar gland, and are composed of inner glandular epithelial cells and outermost myoepithelial cells. Histochemical studies suggest that main secretory materials released from the mucous glands might be acid mucopolysaccharides which is more abundant in the ventral skin than in the dorsal skin. The scanning electron microscopic observation showed that the morphology of the opening sites of the gland duct is similar to the morphology of stomata on the plant leaves. Glandular epithelial layers of the mucous glands are composed of two cell types, the mucous secreting cells and the mitochondria rich cells. The mucous secreting cells could be classified according to the morphology and inner textures of cytoplasm and those characteristics were seemed to be related to the degree of maturation of the cells. Furthermore the mucous within the mucous secreting cells appears to be synthesized in the rough endoplasmic reticulum.