The effect of sex hormones on lipid content and mast cell number in the harderian gland of the female toad, Bufo viridis

The Harderian gland of the toad Bufo viridis is a dimorphic gland owing to the presence of lipid droplets in the female glandular cells present only during summer months. Ovariectomy causes the disappearence of sudanophilia and estrogen-treatment completely prevents this change, while testosterone-injection has little effect. Estradiol-treatment also provokes a proliferation of the interstitial connective tissue concomitantly with the mast cell number increase. Our results suggest that estradiol acts, stimulating both mast cell and connective tissue proliferation, and plays a role in determining the expression of the female type of the toad Harderian gland.