Fig. 2.

Structural aspects of bone loss during sexual maturation in eels. Superior view (A) and 500× magnified (B) SEM images of entire vertebral body end plates of female eels in different maturation stages depict the successive bone loss on a supracellular level. (C) Bone histology based on azan-dyed, parasagittal sections of vertebral bodies illustrates changes in bone structures during the maturation process on a cellular level. Defined structures are marked and labeled: BT, bone trabeculae; NC, notochord; OS, osteon; VE, vertebral body end plate. *Indication of bone resorption.