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Science 22 July 1977:
Vol. 197. no. 4301, pp. 383 - 384
DOI: 10.1126/science.197.4301.383
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Articles

Overlapping Platelets: A Diffusion Barrier in a Teleost Swimbladder

D. SCOTT BROWN 1 and D. EUGENE COPELAND 2

1 Department of Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118
2 Department of Biology, Tulane University, and Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543

Overlapping platelets are layered within the connective tissue of the wall of a closed (physoclistous) swimbladder. The close, staggered arrangement of the platelets is viewed as a physical barrier that can interfere with the diffusion pathway of gas molecules. The result is a more efficient retention of gas pressures within the swimbladder.

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)