MORPHOGENESIS OF THE PANCREAS OF BUFO-BUFO DURING METAMORPHOSIS

Histology and immunohistochemical reactivity (IR) toward insulin, gluc agon, somatostatin(14), and pancreatic polypeptide were investigated i n the pancreas and in other tissues of Bufo bufo during metamorphosis. Insulin IR cells appeared at the very beginning of metamorphosis amon g exocrine pancreatic cells rich in yolk platelets, not completely arr anged in acini. Less than 1 week later, glucagon, somatostatin(14), an d pancreatic polypeptide IR cells also appeared. At metamorphic climax , both endocrine and exocrine tissues of the pancreas underwent extens ive degeneration, mainly via apoptotic cellular death. At this time th e number of IR cells and the intensity of immunohistochemical reaction s decreased for all the hormones tested. Pancreatic reorganization beg an at the end of the climax. (C) 1995 Academic Press. Inc.