Estrogen and brood pouch formation in the marsupial frog, <i>Gastrotheca riobambae</i>

Abstract

Abstract Immature female Gastrotheca riobambae were treated with either 1 μg or 10 μg estradiol daily for 24 days. Both estrogen dosages elicited formation of the brood pouch, a dorsal integumentary structure which contains eggs or larvae during the breeding season. A decrease or loss of epidermal keratin, dermal chromatophore units and dermal poison glands occurred during both normal and estrogen‐induced pouch formation. Also, pouch skin exhibited dermal hypervascularity and connective tissue hyperplasia. The epidermis lining the pouch lumen possessed crypts. The importance of these changes is discussed in relation to pouch function.