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Glassfrogs conceal blood in their liver to maintain transparency.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Taboada, C; Delia, J; Chen, M; Ma, C; Peng, X; Zhu, X; Jiang, L; Vu, T; Zhou, Q; Yao, J; O'Connell, L; Johnsen, S
Published in: Science (New York, N.Y.)
December 2022

Transparency in animals is a complex form of camouflage involving mechanisms that reduce light scattering and absorption throughout the organism. In vertebrates, attaining transparency is difficult because their circulatory system is full of red blood cells (RBCs) that strongly attenuate light. Here, we document how glassfrogs overcome this challenge by concealing these cells from view. Using photoacoustic imaging to track RBCs in vivo, we show that resting glassfrogs increase transparency two- to threefold by removing ~89% of their RBCs from circulation and packing them within their liver. Vertebrate transparency thus requires both see-through tissues and active mechanisms that "clear" respiratory pigments from these tissues. Furthermore, glassfrogs' ability to regulate the location, density, and packing of RBCs without clotting offers insight in metabolic, hemodynamic, and blood-clot research.

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Published In

Science (New York, N.Y.)

DOI

EISSN

1095-9203

ISSN

0036-8075

Publication Date

December 2022

Volume

378

Issue

6626

Start / End Page

1315 / 1320

Related Subject Headings

  • Optical Phenomena
  • Liver
  • Hemodynamics
  • General Science & Technology
  • Erythrocytes
  • Erythrocyte Count
  • Blood Coagulation
  • Biological Mimicry
  • Anura
  • Animals
 

Citation

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Taboada, C., Delia, J., Chen, M., Ma, C., Peng, X., Zhu, X., … Johnsen, S. (2022). Glassfrogs conceal blood in their liver to maintain transparency. Science (New York, N.Y.), 378(6626), 1315–1320. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abl6620
Taboada, Carlos, Jesse Delia, Maomao Chen, Chenshuo Ma, Xiaorui Peng, Xiaoyi Zhu, Laiming Jiang, et al. “Glassfrogs conceal blood in their liver to maintain transparency.Science (New York, N.Y.) 378, no. 6626 (December 2022): 1315–20. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abl6620.
Taboada C, Delia J, Chen M, Ma C, Peng X, Zhu X, et al. Glassfrogs conceal blood in their liver to maintain transparency. Science (New York, NY). 2022 Dec;378(6626):1315–20.
Taboada, Carlos, et al. “Glassfrogs conceal blood in their liver to maintain transparency.Science (New York, N.Y.), vol. 378, no. 6626, Dec. 2022, pp. 1315–20. Epmc, doi:10.1126/science.abl6620.
Taboada C, Delia J, Chen M, Ma C, Peng X, Zhu X, Jiang L, Vu T, Zhou Q, Yao J, O’Connell L, Johnsen S. Glassfrogs conceal blood in their liver to maintain transparency. Science (New York, NY). 2022 Dec;378(6626):1315–1320.
Journal cover image

Published In

Science (New York, N.Y.)

DOI

EISSN

1095-9203

ISSN

0036-8075

Publication Date

December 2022

Volume

378

Issue

6626

Start / End Page

1315 / 1320

Related Subject Headings

  • Optical Phenomena
  • Liver
  • Hemodynamics
  • General Science & Technology
  • Erythrocytes
  • Erythrocyte Count
  • Blood Coagulation
  • Biological Mimicry
  • Anura
  • Animals