Abstract
The metamorphosis of Rhinella arenarum was induced precociously for 5 days, then blocked for 3 months to evaluate the role of thyroid hormones as modulators of morphoregulatory molecules such as E-cadherin, and β- and α-catenin during epithelium remodeling. We then performed an immunohistochemical and morphometric study of these molecules in the larval stomach. We show that 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine exerts a positive regulatory effect on E-cadherin and β- and α-catenin expression in stomach epithelium. This suggests continuous synthesis of E-cadherin, and β- and α-catenin; synthesis essentially is thyroid hormone-independent during premetamorphosis and early prometamorphosis, but it becomes thyroid hormone-dependent during metamorphic climax.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by grants from SCYTFRH-UNER, PIDs 6019–1 and 6053–1 (to VHC), and 6088–1 (to MFI).