Serous cutaneous glands in anurans: Fourier transform analysis of the repeating secretory granule substructure

Naturwissenschaften. 2013 Mar;100(3):209-18. doi: 10.1007/s00114-013-1013-x. Epub 2013 Jan 20.

Abstract

A combined transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform analysis has been performed on the secretory granules storing active peptides/proteins in serous cutaneous glands of n = 12 anuran species. Previous TEM investigation showed that the granules are provided with remarkable repeating substructures based on discrete subunits, arranged into a consistent framework. Furthermore, TEM findings revealed that this recurrent arrangement is acquired during a prolonged post-Golgian (or maturational) processing that affects the secretory product. Maturation leads to a variety of patterns depending on the degree of subunit clustering. This variety of recurrent patterns has been plotted into a range of frequency spectra. Through this quantitative approach, we found that the varying granule substructure can be reduced to a single mechanism of peptide/protein aggregation.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anura / physiology*
  • Exocrine Glands / ultrastructure*
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Larva
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Models, Biological
  • Secretory Vesicles / ultrastructure*
  • Skin / ultrastructure*