Temporal release characteristics of cane toad parotoid glandsecretions following benign electrical stimulation

摘要

The development of a technique of electrical stimulation to release secretions from the dermal macroglandsof anurans has permitted analysis of the secretions of numerous species without the need to kill the sub-jects. Sequential photography of the process, involving stimulation of the parotoid glands of the cane toad.Bufo marinus, demonstrates the temporal characteristics. Liberation of the secretions commences after fiveseconds and maximum discharge is attained after 25 s.