Sequential morphological changes of erythrocyte apoptosis in Xenopus larvae exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD).

We previously demonstrated that 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin treatment of Xenopus laevis during the early stages of life induces apoptosis in larval erythrocytes (Sakamoto et al., 1997). In the present study, an examination of these cells at the ultrastructural level was undertaken to elucidate the sequential morphological changes that occur during apoptosis.