ERYTHROPOIESIS DURING AMPHIBIAN METAMORPHOSIS : I. Site of Maturation of Erythrocytes in Rana catesbeiana

J Cell Biol. 1971 May 1;49(2):372-9. doi: 10.1083/jcb.49.2.372.

Abstract

The site of maturation of the erythroid cells in premetamorphic, metamorphic, and adult stages of R. catesbeiana has been investigated by comparing the percentages of immature, hemoglobin-containing erythroid cells in circulating blood, liver, spleen, kidney, and bone marrow. In both premetamorphic and thyroxine-treated tadpoles, the liver was found to be the main site of maturation of the red cells. The corresponding site in the frog is the bone marrow.