Adenohypophysial‐thyroid activity of the tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum, as a function of metamorphosis and captivity

The aim of this study was to determine the timing of adeno‐hypophysial activation during metamorphosis of the tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum. It consisted of two parts: (1) determination of plasma thyroid hormone concentrations and analysis of thyroid gland histology as a function of metamorphic stage and (2) analysis of the time‐course of uptake of ¹²⁵I by the thyroids during metamorphosis as an indicator of endogenous thyrotropin (TSH) levels. Significant increases in both triiodothyronine (T₃) and thyroxine (T₄) first were evident at the onset of metamorphic climax (stage II). Maximum levels of both hormones were not observed, however, until the completion of gill resorption (stage VII). No changes in thyroid histology were observed that could be unambiguously related to metamorphic transformation. The thyroids accumulated ¹²⁵I in a slow but linear fashion in premetamorphic larvae (stage I). However, uptake exhibited a rapid peak during early climax (stage II), before maximum concentrations of thyroid hormones were observed. In addition, uptake was maintained above premetamorphic levels at stage VII, in conjunction with maximum levels of T₄ and T₃. Captivity alone produced a small but significant increase in plasma concentrations of T₃. It produced no significant effect on either thyroid histology or uptake of ¹²⁵I. These results indicate that adenohypophysial activation occurs rapidly and is maximal at the onset of metamorphic climax.