The erythrocyte presents morphologic, cytochemical, and quantitative adaptations as it progresses through its evolutionary continuum. This text is a comprehensive exploration of the evolutionary relationship of the avian erythrocyte with the erythrocytes of the antecedent lower vertebrates-such as amphibians and reptiles-as well as mammalians. It also presents tabular erythrocytic taxonomically organized data which provide an essential reference source.

Foreword, Acknowledgements, 1. Maturation: erythroblast to erythrocyte, 2. Erythrocyte precursors: quantitative representation in hemopoietic bone marrow, 3. Cytoskeleton, 4. Vascular system and architecture of hemopoietic bone marrow, 5. Relationship of bone marrow sinuses and erythropoiesis, 6. Erythropoiesis during embryogenesis: general plan, 7. Yolk sac erythropoiesis: early phase, 8. Germ disc: earliest commitment to erythroblast formation, 9. Ultrastructure of early yolk sac erythropoiesis, 10. Yolk sac erythropoiesis: later phase, 11. Hemopoietic stem cell and quail-chick chimera, 12. Intraembryonic hemopoietic stem cell: origin and distribution, 13. Hepatic and splenic erythropoiesis during embryogenesis, 14. Medullary erythropoiesis during embryogenesis, 15. Circulating erythrocytes and marrow erythroblasts in the domestic chicken embryo and hatchling: quantitative aspects, 16. Embryonic erythropoiesis: an altricial passeriforme versus a precocial galliforme, 17. Hepatic erythropoiesis in the adult, 18. Thymic erythropoiesis, 19. Erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin levels and hematocrits, 20. Red cell indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC), 21. Confi guration of the erythrocyte, 22. Erythrocyte-based values and gender relationships, 23. Erythrocyte size and variations other than gender-related, 24. Erythroid parameters and relationships with age and other conditions, 25. Erythroid profi le and migratory behavior of the avian, 26. Erythrocytic picture and altitude of habitat, 27. Season and erythroid picture, 28. Interaction of erythropoiesis, egg laying, and iron metabolism, 29. Breeding cycle of a pelagic seabird, 30. Avian hemoglobins: adult and embryonic, 31. Blood volume, 32. Life span of the erythrocyte, 33. Apoptosis, 34. Erythroplastids (denucleated erythrocytes), 35. Staining and cytochemistry, 36. Osmotic fragility, 37. Erythroid reservoir function of the spleen in fowl, 38. Telomeres, 39. Anemia, 40. Polycythemia, 41. Erythroid response to hemorrhage, 42. Phenylhydrazine-induced anemia and Heinz bodies, 43. Assessment of erythropoietic status of bone marrow, 44. Avian C-value, 45. Metals and erythropoiesis, 46. Parasitization of the erythrocyte, 47. Erythroleukemia, 48. Erythrocytes and pathologic conditions/agents, 49. Hormones and erythropoiesis, 50. Avian erythrocyte: a generator of cytokines, 51. Anticoagulants: impact upon erythrocytes, Table 1: Erythrocyte Counts and Related Values in Avians, Glossary: Common Names of Species Cited in the Text and Tables, References, Appendix: Genus, Species and Other Taxa of Cited Avians and Non-Avians, Subject Index