THE EFFECTS OF GONADECTOMY AND TESTOSTERONE TREATMENT ON THE HARDERIAN-GLAND OF THE GREEN FROG, RANA-ESCULENTA

The effects of gonadectomy and testosterone treatment on the fine stru cture of the Harderian gland in male and female green frogs were inves tigated in different periods of the year. Gonadectomy, carried out whe n the glands are in the lowest secretory phase (September), causes deg enerative changes consisting of a reduction of the rough endoplasmic r eticulum, the appearance of autolysosomes, and an increase of nuclear heterochromatin. These effects can be prevented by testosterone treatm ent. No castration effects are found during the recovery (November) an d enhancement (April-May) phases of secretory activity. The results su ggest that the frog Harderian gland's sensitivity to testosterone chan ges during the annual cycle. The androgen dependence of the Harderian gland is correlated with the presence of androgen receptors in both ma le and female frogs.