Summary
Hypercalcemia was induced in the frog, Rana pipiens in the winter months by the intramuscular injection of Vitamin D2 and maintenance of animals in 0.8% CaCl2 solution. After two weeks of treatment (200,000 I. U. Vitamin D2), the blood calcium rose to 15.2 mg- % from a normal of 9.2 mg- %, The ultimobranchial glands were examined by light microscopy and found to have undergone extensive cellular hypertrophy and tissue hyperplasia. Gland volume increased almost threefold over control glands and the nuclear/ cytoplasmic ratio was doubled. These changes were accompanied by an increased epithelial height, obliterated central lumen and enlarged capillaries. Similarly treated animals were then placed in fresh water for three weeks whereby the blood calcium levels returned to normal and the volume of the glands approached near normal levels. The paravertebral lime sacs were found to have undergone extensive filling under hypercalcemic conditions; X-rays were used as an additional aid to evaluate osteoporosis and calcium imbalance. The sensitivity of the ultimobranchial gland to hypercalcemia suggests an endocrine relationship; possibly this gland is the origin of a hypocalcemic factor related to the mammalian homolog, thyrocalcitonin.
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This project was supported by funds provided by the Department of Anatomical Sciences. The author wishes to acknowledge the technical assistance of Mr. George Pinkney, Department of Anatomical Sciences and Mr. Charles Mills, Department of Orthopedics.
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Robertson, D.R. The ultimobranchial body in Rana pipiens . Z. Zellforsch. 85, 441–452 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00324739
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00324739