Relationship between epithelial and connective tissues in the stomach of the frog Rana temporaria during metamorphosis: an ultrastructural study.

摘要

In the course of metamorphosis of the stomach of Rana temporaria tadpoles there is a marked increase in the amount of active mesenchymal fibroblasts and extracellular matrix underlying the regenerating gastric epithelium. At the onset of metamorphosis, a thick PAS-positive basement membrane is developed around the epithelial component of the mucosa, formed by the apical, degenerating larval epithelium and the basal, regenerative epithelial cords. Under the electron microscope, a folded basement membrane is usually revealed under the apical degenerating epithelium while a compact basement membrane (up to 1-2 microns thick), forming both patches and more extensive areas, is frequently seen around the regenerative glandular cords. Cytoplasmic processes, extending from both the epithelial and mesenchymal fibroblastic cells, cross the basement membrane and make physical contact between the two cellular types. At mid-metamorphosis areas of thick PAS-positive basement membrane are still observed around the differentiating glandular outlines, before disappearing completely at late metamorphosis. The probable involvement of intertissue interactions between epithelium and connective elements in the morphogenesis, proliferation and differentiation of secondary, definitive frog stomach is discussed. Early contacts between epithelium and phagocytes, probably related to the invasion of epithelium by the phagocytic cells, have also been observed.