Sexual differentiation of urogenital ducts of Ambystoma tigrinum

Abstract

Abstract Adult salamanders of Ambystoma tigrinum show a high degree of sexual dimorphism. The normal growth of the urogenital ducts system in relation to the development of the gonads is traced from the sexually indifferent period preceding metamorphosis to sexual maturity at 1 year. Differentiation and growth of secondary sex characters is correlated with spermatogenesis in the male and with growth of ovocytes in the female. Testicular hormone manifests its initial appearance in male differentiation of the wolffian and urinary collecting ducts following metamorphosis. Growth of ovocytes and oviducts begins before metamorphosis and may be assumed to indicate the initial appearance of the ovarian hormone. Females retain the larval arrangement of wolffian and urinary ducts. The oviducts of the male regress during the period of rapid male differentiation. This suggests the possibility of antagonistic activity of the male hormones in Ambystoma.