[Erythrophagocytosis and pigment cells of the amphibian liver]

Abstract

The ultrastructure of Kupffer liver cells of adult frogs collected in winter and Kupffer cells during amphibian metamorphosis when larval red cells are replaced by adult red cells were investigated. It was revealed that Kupffer cells of the animals investigated had very large size and consisted of either the whole senescent erythrocyte or many phagosomes with small electron dense granules resembling ferritin. Phagosomes are oriented among numerous vesicular and vermiform profiles of agranular endoplasmic reticulum and big Golgi complex. Comparing our morphologic evidence with data of the literature that granules of melanin are synthesized and localized in frog liver Kupffer cells, we came to conclusion that pigment cells were formed as a result of erythrophagocytosis and therefore they were the depo of catabolism products. The comparison of functions of melano-macrophage centers of fish liver and of pigment cells of amphibia liver were discussed.