Comparative ultrastructural study of normal and grafted skin in the frog, Rana pipiens , with special reference to neuroepithelial connections

Abstract

Recent investigations have suggested specific differences in back and belly skin in anurans which appear to influence the quality of reflex responses obtained from various areas of the animals body. The present investigation represents a comparative morphological study of back and belly skin in control and skin-grafted Rana pipiens , with special regard to the neuroepithelial relationships. A distinct difference in pigmentation of back and belly skin was observed. Intra-epithelial Merkel cells were present in all skin samples studied. The origins of the numerous unclassifiable cells in the Merkel cell region are discussed in relation to a presumed coordinating function of the Merkel cell during epithelial differentiation. Epitheliomesenchymal interactions were observed in the richly innvervated dermal regions. Two types of morphologically different intra-epithelial nerve endings were observed. These observations are discussed in relation to earlier observations on vertebrate skin and in relation to misdirected reflex responses obtained in skin-grafted anurans.