Color Atlas of Larval Xenopus laevis: Microvasculature of Selected Tissues and Organs

Using the model organism Xenopus laevis, this unique atlas provides the first comprehensive three-dimensional documentation of the growth, maturation, and regression of the microvascular system during metamorphosis. After introducing the methodologies of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts, the book traces the dramatic remodeling of blood vessel networks as larval organs regress and adult structures develop. For each organ, concise descriptions of histomorphology are complemented by spectacular color-coded scanning electron micrographs that reveal the spatial organization and complexity of tissue-specific microvascular beds. The innovative color coding allows even non-specialists to distinguish arteries from veins with ease, while characteristic vascular patterns can be readily identified across different tissues and developmental stages. The atlas provides unprecedented insights into angiogenesis, including sprouting and non-sprouting vascular growth, as well as the mechanisms underlying complete vascular regression during metamorphosis. Richly illustrated throughout, it fills a major gap in the literature on vascular development in Xenopus laevis and serves as an essential reference for anatomists, vascular and developmental biologists, biomedical researchers, and specialists interested in scanning electron microscopy and vascular corrosion casting. It also appeals to scientists studying organ development, morphogenesis, pattern formation, and the dynamic remodeling of complex biological systems.