Scientists at Duke University have found that glass frogs increase their transparency during sleep by temporarily storing red blood cells in their livers. The research was published in the journal Science.
Hyalinobatrachium fleischmanni – a tropical frog species with translucent skin. Because these frogs sleep during the day, they need camouflage from potential predators. Transparency allows them to disguise themselves as the leaves on which they sleep.
Using color photos to monitor the animals’ transparency, and photoacoustic imaging to track the movement of red blood cells in living frogs, the scientists found that glass frogs become 34% to 61% more transparent when they sleep.
To do this, the authors found that the animals removed 89% of their red blood cells from the circulation and “stored” them in the liver during sleep without any harmful vascular or metabolic effects. As frogs wake up and become more active, the number of circulating red blood cells increases significantly.
Scientists have yet to discover the mechanism that controls red blood cell redistribution in glass frogs. It is unclear whether the glass frog could become transparent by hiding red blood cells in the presence of a predator. In addition, high concentrations of red blood cells in most vertebrates will lead to atherosclerosis. Finding an adaptation that allows frogs to avoid thrombosis could aid the development of new anticoagulants or other cardiovascular drugs.
Source: Gazeta
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