Bradshaw S D, Tom J A, Bunn S E
Gen Comp Endocrinol. 1984 May;54(2):308-13. doi: 10.1016/0016-6480(84)90185-0.
The scincid lizard Tiliqua rugosa possesses a well-developed nasal gland composed of both mucoserous and salt-secreting cells. Confusion over its secretory capacities (see H. Saint- Girons , M. Lemire , and S. D. Bradshaw, 1977, Zoomorphologie 88, 277-288) has been resolved and NaCl- and KCl-injected animals can secrete a hyperosmotic fluid with an F/P ratio of about 3.6. The concentration of Na+ in the secretion varied from a mean of 434 mmol/liter when sodium loaded to 167 mmol/liter when potassium loaded. Potassium concentrations varied from 226 to 433 mmol/liter, respectively. Na:K ratios thus vary from 1.98 with NaCl loading to 0.42 with KCl loading, demonstrating the gland's capacity to vary the nature of the secretion. Rates of fluid production did not differ significantly between NaCl- and KCl-loaded individuals and varied from 13.3 to 19.6 microliter (100 x g hr)-1. Adjacent studies on the north African agamid lizard Uromastix acanthinurus suggested that aldosterone may influence the rate and composition of the nasal gland secretions and this possibility was investigated in Tiliqua by hormone binding studies. High affinity binding for both corticosterone and aldosterone was demonstrated during the breeding season, with a Kd of 5.2 x 10(-9) and 12.9 x 10(-9) M, respectively. Binding of aldosterone to nasal gland receptors was not evident in nonbreeding animals and the binding of corticosterone was primarily nonspecific in these individuals. These data suggest that hormone receptor concentrations and affinity vary on a seasonal basis and in concert with reproductive activity.
石龙子蜥蜴粗鳞蓝舌石龙子拥有一个发育良好的鼻腺，该鼻腺由粘液浆液性细胞和分泌盐分的细胞组成。关于其分泌能力的混淆（见H. 圣吉龙、M. 勒米尔和S. D. 布拉德肖，1977年，《形态学》88卷，277 - 288页）已得到解决，注射氯化钠和氯化钾的动物能够分泌一种F/P比约为3.6的高渗液体。分泌物中钠的浓度在钠负荷时平均为434毫摩尔/升，钾负荷时为167毫摩尔/升。钾的浓度分别在226至433毫摩尔/升之间变化。因此，钠钾比从氯化钠负荷时的1.98变化到氯化钾负荷时的0.42，表明该腺体能够改变分泌物的性质。氯化钠负荷个体和氯化钾负荷个体之间的液体分泌速率没有显著差异，范围在13.3至19.6微升（100×g小时）-1之间。对北非鬣蜥棘刺尾蜥的相关研究表明，醛固酮可能会影响鼻腺分泌物的速率和成分，并且通过激素结合研究在粗鳞蓝舌石龙子中对这一可能性进行了调查。在繁殖季节，对皮质酮和醛固酮均表现出高亲和力结合，其解离常数分别为5.2×10(-9)和12.9×10(-9) M。在非繁殖动物中，醛固酮与鼻腺受体的结合不明显，而在这些个体中皮质酮的结合主要是非特异性的。这些数据表明，激素受体浓度和亲和力会随季节变化，并与生殖活动协同变化。
