The crab-eating frog Rana cancrivora: serum mineral concentrations and histology of the ultimobranchial gland and the parathyroid gland.

In the crab-eating frog Rana cancrivora, taken from a full-strength seawater pond, the in situ levels of serum Na, Cl, K, Ca, Mg, Pi, urea, and osmolarity were examined. The levels were higher than those usually reported for freshwater anurans. However, values for the monovalent salts, urea, and osmolarity were lower than those reported by Gordon et al. (1961, J. Exp. Biol. 38, 659-678) following immersion of this species in 80% seawater for 7 days. The histological features of the ultimobranchial gland and parathyroid gland were coincident with those known in usual freshwater frogs, in spite of the peculiarity of the habitat of this species. The ultimobranchial gland was composed of a single follicle or multiple follicles. In most parenchymal cells, immunoreactive calcitonin was detected using the PAP method with anti-salmon calcitonin antiserum. In the parathyroid gland, cells in the central part of the gland were smaller than those in the peripheral part.