Biology Reference
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in a way comparable to that in anuran amphibians (Miwa and Inui, 1991).
Pre- and prometamorphic larvae of the Japanese fl ounder have only larval
erythrocytes, which are large round cells with round and piknotic nuclei
(Fig. 9-a). A large number of immature adult type erythrocytes, which are
small and slightly elliptical cells with large nuclei, appear at metamorphic
climax (Fig. 9-b). These immature cells develop into elliptical adult type
(defi nitive) erythrocytes in fully metamorphosed juveniles (Fig. 9-c). Such
a shift of erythrocyte populations can be clearly seen by measuring the
Figure 9.
Photomicrographs of blood smears of spontaneously metamorphosing Japanese
fl ounder larvae at different developmental stages. Wright-Giemsa.
a,
Prometamorphosis. Large
larval erythrocytes with small nuclei and putative immature larval erythrocytes (arrowheads)
are seen. The bar indicates 20 µm.
b,
Climax. Immature (pro-) adult erythrocytes with dark blue
cytoplasm and large nuclei (arrowheads) appear in the blood at this stage. Same magnifi cation
as a.
c,
Juvenile. Small elliptic adult erythrocytes are observed. Same magnifi cation as a. [From
Miwa and Inui, 1991, with permission].
