The analysis of red blood cell dynamics during metamorphosis of Xenopus laevis

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During amphibian metamorphosis, most of the organs and tissues are remodeled. The red blood cells are also remodeled from larval type to adult type, but the mechanism regulating this switch is largely unknown. In this study, I suggest that not thyroid hormone, but erythropoietin induces the red blood cell transition in Xenopus laevis. I also found that the red blood cell transition in Xenopus does not synchronize to metamorphosis, showing striking contrast to the case in other terrestrial anuran species. This would suggest that the mechanism governs the transition in Xenopus is distinct from those in other species.