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Figure 1

From: Variations in tetrodotoxin levels in populations of Taricha granulosa are expressed in the morphology of their cutaneous glands

Figure 1The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

Characterization of skin morphology of Taricha granulosa from LW− and SC+ populations. (a) Overview of skin from LW− population showing the poison glands. Note that these glands are composed of two distinct types of secretory cells (I and II) completely filled with secretory granules. (b) Overview of skin from SC+ population, showing Type I cells within the voluminous poison glands. Note that in both populations Type I cells are always located immediately below the epithelial duct, through which the secretion is released (arrow). Note, also, that poison gland cells may exhibit more than one nucleus (arrowhead). (c) In the LW− population, Type I cells contain two types of secretory granules, one spherical and dense, and the other elliptic and flocculent. (d) In the SC+ population, Type I cells are filled exclusively with flocculent elliptical granules. (e) Three-dimensional reconstruction of the poison gland of SC+ population, showing the relationship between Type I cells and the duct. (f) In the two populations, the mucous glands (m) have very similar characteristics and consist of two types of secretory cells that are identified by differences in staining. Note the rather obvious lumen and the presence of only one nucleus per cell. Epidermis (e), blood vessel (v). Staining: toluidine blue and fuchsine. Sexes of the animals: female (images a,b,f), male (images c–e).

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