Evolutionary trends in adrenal gland of anurans and urodeles

Morphological, histological, ultrastructural, and developmental research on the adrenal gland of several species of anurans and urodeles belonging to different families is presented. Urodeles show a large variability in adrenal glandular structure without a clear taxonomic pattern, although increased compactness of the gland and mingling of steroidogenic and chromaffin cells are found only in some neourodeles. In anurans the glandular pattern may be divided into two subtypes: one more medial and diffuse, which is observed in frogs of the more primitive families; the other more lateral and aggregated, as seen in the more advanced families. The adrenal gland therefore increases in its compactness and aggregation of chromaffin and steroidogenic tissues in the transition from primitive to advanced families, both in urodeles and anurans. Until the end of metamorphosis, morphogenesis of the gland is similar in all amphibians studied. This process is extended after metamorphosis in the advanced anurans, in order that the gland may reach its definitive position.