Monoaminergic fluorescence in frog skin

Abstract

The Falck-Hillarp fluorescence technique was employed in an attempt to determine the distribution of sympathetic innervation in frog skin. No evidence was found of a direct monoaminergic nerve supply to the cells of the non-glandular epithelium in the epidermis. Instead, specific fluorescence was mainly confined to the vicinity of the skin glands. Fluorescent fibers were observed surrounding the mucous type of gland. The secretory content of this gland was not fluorescent. In the granular type of gland the main source of fluorescence was the secretory granules filling the lumen. These developed a fluorescence in the spectral range of 5-hydroxytryptamine. The brightness of the fluorescence indicated a very high content of this amine. Fluorimetric analysis showed that no catecholamines were present in the secretion. In glands devoid of secretory granules there were some indications of a monoaminergic innervation of the secretory epithelium, but this was hard to determine because of the abundant nonspecific fluorescence. Sparse dots of specific fluorescence were found close to the surrounding smooth muscle cells. -- These findings rule out the possibility of a direct sympathetic nervous control of the non-glandular epithelium in frog skin but indicate that this is instead confined to the skin glands.