Proliferation in the epidermis of chelonians and growth of the horny scutes

Abstract

The proliferation of the epidermis in soft skin, claws, and scutes of the carapace and plastron in the tortoise (Testudo hermanni) and the turtle (Chrysemys picta) were studied using autoradiographic and immunocytochemical methods. During the growing season, a basal keratinocyte in the epidermis of soft skin and claws takes 5-9 days to migrate into the corneous layer. In the tortoise, during fall/winter (resting season) a few alpha-keratin cells are produced in soft epidermis and hinge regions among scutes and occasional beta-keratin cells in the outer scute surface. When growth is resumed in spring (growing season), cell proliferation is intense, mainly around hinge regions and tips of marginal scutes. No scute shedding occurs and numerous beta-keratin cells are produced around the hinge regions, while alpha-keratin cells disappear. Beta-cells form a new thick corneous layer around the hinge regions, which constitute the growing rings of scutes. Beta-keratin cells produced in more central parts of scutes maintain a homogeneous thickness of the corneous layer along the whole scute surface. In the turtle, a more complicated process of scute growth occurs than in the tortoise. At the end of the growing season (late fall) the last keratinocytes formed beneath the old stratum corneum of the outer scale surface and hinge regions produce more alpha- than beta-keratin. These thin alpha-keratin cells form a scission layer below the old stratum corneum, which extends from the hinge regions toward the center of scutes and the tip of marginal scutes. In the resting season (fall/winter) most cells remain within the germinative layer of the carapace and plastron and a few alpha-cells move in 7-9 days into the corneous layer above hinge regions. In the following spring/summer (growing season) a new generation of beta-keratin cells is produced beneath the scission layer from the hinge region and more central part of the scutes. The epidermis of the inner surface of scutes and hinge regions contains most of the cells incorporating thymidine and histidine, while the remaining outer scute surface is less active. It takes 5-9 days for a newly produced beta-cell to migrate into the corneous layer. These cells form a new corneous layer that extends the whole scute surface underneath the maturing scission layer. The latter contains lipids and eventually flakes off, determining shedding of the above outer corneous layer in late spring or summer.