INTERRENAL OF A FEMALE GYMNOPHIONE AMPHIBIAN, ICHTHYOPHIS-BEDDOMEI, DURING THE ANNUAL REPRODUCTIVE-CYCLE

The interrenal (adrenal) of Ichthyophis beddomei lies on the ventral side of the kidney, distributed in four zones. It is separated from the renal tissue by a thin layer of connective tissue and contains both adrenocortical and chromaffin cells. Adrenocortical tissue constitutes a major portion of the interrenal islets; the chromaffin tissue consists of a few cells located at the peripheries of the interrenal islets. Histochemical studies demonstrate the presence of DELTA(5)3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, and sudanophilic lipids in the adrenocortical tissue, suggesting its steroidogenic potential. Annual histometric and histochemical studies show two peaks of interrenal activity: 1) during the breeding phase of the reproductive cycle (January and February) and 2) during the season of heavy monsoon rains (June and July) in the postbreeding phase.