Control of chromatophore movements in dermal chromatic units of blue damselfish--I. The melanophore.
Mechanisms controlling pigment movements in the melanophore of the blue damselfish, Chrysiptera cyanea, were studied. Histological observations revealed that the melanophore had three-dimensionally developed processes to envelop overlying small iridophores, and thus participated in the construction of a simple dermal chromatophore unit. Nervous stimulation, catecholamines and melatonin brought about melanosome aggregation in the melanophore. The actions of the nervous stimulation and catecholamines were antagonized by alpha adrenolytic agents. A beta adrenergic agonist, metaproterenol, adenosine and adenine nucleotides, and alpha-MSH acted as pigment-dispersing agents. These results indicate that the melanophore of the present material is controlled quite orthodoxly by adrenergic nerves and endocrines, notwithstanding the fact that it has quite a unique morphology among fish species, and that its motile rate is remarkably high.
Kasukawa
H
H
Sugimoto
M
M
Oshima
N
N
Fujii
R
R
D000818:Animals; D002856:Chromatophores / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005399:Fishes; D008547:Melanophores / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010646:Phentolamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena
D008550:Melatonin; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine; D010646:Phentolamine