Role of Hormones in Frogs

Metamorphosis in frogs that is the transformation of a tadpole into an adult frog is totally controlled by the hormone namely thyroxine. In frogs, thyroxine and gonadotropins hormone play an essential part in their life history. These are as follows:

Thyroxine

The production site of thyroxine hormone is thyroid glands in frogs. Its major function is to regulate rate of metabolism and growth during different stages of development. A mineral called iodine is required by the thyroxine hormone for its synthesis and production. This hormone stimulates the growth of tissues, specially in the hind limbs and lungs in tadpoles. As the tadpole continue to undergo under the process of metamorphosis, the level of the hormone thyroxine increases, making the transformation of tadpole into an adult frog.

Gonadotropins

In frogs, the secretion site of gonadotropin hormone is the pituitary gland. Its major function is to control the development of the reproductive system and the production of the gametes. Gonadotropin is the stimulating hormone that stimulates the gonads to get mature (testes in male and ovaries in females). It also has a function of regulationg sex hormones like estrogen and testosteron, which are crucial for reproduction.

Also Read:

• Difference Between Butterfly and Caterpillar
• Difference Between Larva and Pupa

Hormones play a significant role in the completion of the life cycles of insects and frogs and various other life forms like plants, animals, and humans. Hormones are chemical messengers transporting numerous important activities in almost every living form. In biological terms, metamorphosis is a process that occurs in an animal’s body physically after birth or hatching during the development cycle. This process is considered the characteristic feature of insects like butterflies, houseflies, etc., and amphibians like frogs, toads, and many more. And hence, hormones play an essential part in the metamorphosis of insects and frogs.