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Increase in liver pigmentation during natural hibernation in some amphibians
Author(s) -
BARNI SERGIO,
BERTONE VITTORIO,
CROCE ANNA CLETA,
BOTTIROLI GIOVANNI,
BERNINI FRANCO,
GERZELI GIUSEPPE
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1469-7580
pISSN - 0021-8782
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-7580.1999.19510019.x
Subject(s) - hypoactivity , hibernation (computing) , biology , melanin , amphibian , zoology , triturus , period (music) , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , endocrinology , ecology , biochemistry , physics , algorithm , computer science , acoustics , state (computer science)
The amount/distribution of liver melanin in 3 amphibian species ( Rana esculenta , Triturus a. apuanus , Triturus carnifex ) was studied during 2 periods of the annual cycle (summer activity–winter hibernation) by light and electron microscopy, image analysis and microspectrofluorometry. The increase in liver pigmentation (melanin content) during winter appeared to be correlated with morphological and functional modifications in the hepatocytes, which at this period were characterised by a decrease in metabolic activity. These findings were interpreted according to the functional role (e.g. phagocytosis, cytotoxic substance inactivation) played by the pigment cell component in the general physiology of the heterothermic vertebrate liver and, in particular, in relation to a compensatory engagement of these cells against hepatocellular hypoactivity during the winter period.