A Histological Study Of The Autotomized Plane In The Tail Of Christinus Marmoratus (Wall Gecko).

Abstract

Lizards have a way of shedding their tails as a defense strategy to facilitate escape from predators. Specific mechanisms are involved in this process of caudal autotomy, as well as in the subsequent tissue regeneration leading to the restoration of the structure and function of the sacrificed tail. Twenty Christinus marmoratus (wall gecko) were used for this study. Under anesthesia with Chloroform, the autotomizing plane of Christinus marmoratus was located (which is about 5 mm to the cloaca), and excised with a clean surgical blade and fixed in 10% formalin. The tails were processed and stained in Hematoxylin and Eosin stains; and connective tissue fibers were demonstrated using Gordon and Sweet's, van Gieson's and Gomori's aldehyde fuchsin's stains. Images of 1.2 mm² areas were viewed using an Olympus binocular microscope and captured with a panasonic video camera. The histological results showed the presence of connective tissue fibers such as collagen, elastic and reticulin fibers, as well as adipose tissue. The spine was sheathed with a thick layer of longitudinal skeletal muscle fibers. The epithelial lining was stratified squamous with the presence of goblet cells, and apposed to the joints are elastic cartilage and blood vessels. These observations support the practices of tail autotomy and regeneration by Christinus marmoratus.