Morphological observations on the glands of the oesophagus and stomach of adult Rana esculenta and Bombina variegata.

Examination of serial sections of the oesophagus and stomach of Rana esculenta and Bombina variegata revealed that oesophageal peptic glands were only present in Rana, where gastric glandular cells performed only one functional role, represented by HCl production. In contrast, in Bombina the gastric glands were mainly of oxynticopeptic cells with dual oxyntic and peptic roles, reflected morphologically by distinct different areas of their cytoplasm. During activity of the oxynticopeptic cells cytoplasmic differences were reduced because the tubular profiles, carrying HCl, and zymogen granules emerged at the cell apex.