[Light and electron microscopic studies of the oropharyngeal epithelium of the metamorphosed Salamandra salamandra (L.) (Urodela: Salamandridae)].

The multi-layered oropharyngeal-epithelium of metamorphosed S. salamandra consists of 3 principal layers: the stratum superficiale, the stratum intermedium and the stratum basale. 4 cell types can be identified in the stratum superficiale: ciliated cells producing small amounts of neutral and acid mucosubstances, and 3 types of goblet cells. Type 1 produces roundish alciano-philic, type 2 PAS-positive polygonal secretory granules; type 3 cells mostly arranged in clusters forming small glands synthesize granules which consist of complex electron dense bodies embeddet in a fuzzy matrix. All cell types mentioned arise from the undifferentiated s. basale; they differentiate in the s. intermedium, where they can be distinguished already in an early stage of maturation.