Erythrocytes (top) and leukocytes (bottom) subjected to a cyclic osmotic change (from isotonic to hypertonic, back to isotonic and finally to hypotonic - distilled water). When exposed to hypertonic solution, the cells shrink. When exposed to water, they swell and burst - erythrocytes become "ghosts" (they expel hemoglobin and lose contrast) and leukocytes blow up like popcorn.
By M. Grundner, U. Klan?nik & J. Derganc
Institute of Biophysics, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
http://www.mf.uni-lj.si/en/ibf/about-the-institute