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. 1999 Jul;195(Pt 1):19–25. doi: 10.1046/j.1469-7580.1999.19510019.x

Increase in liver pigmentation during natural hibernation in some amphibians

SERGIO BARNI 1 ,✉, VITTORIO BERTONE 1 , ANNA CLETA CROCE 2 , GIOVANNI BOTTIROLI 2 , FRANCO BERNINI 1 , GIUSEPPE GERZELI 1
PMCID: PMC1467961  PMID: 10473289

Abstract

The amount/distribution of liver melanin in 3 amphibian species (Rana esculenta, Triturus a. apuanus, Triturus carnifex) was studied during 2 periods of the annual cycle (summer activity–winter hibernation) by light and electron microscopy, image analysis and microspectrofluorometry. The increase in liver pigmentation (melanin content) during winter appeared to be correlated with morphological and functional modifications in the hepatocytes, which at this period were characterised by a decrease in metabolic activity. These findings were interpreted according to the functional role (e.g. phagocytosis, cytotoxic substance inactivation) played by the pigment cell component in the general physiology of the heterothermic vertebrate liver and, in particular, in relation to a compensatory engagement of these cells against hepatocellular hypoactivity during the winter period.

Keywords: Melanin, seasonal variation

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Selected References

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