Spectral sensitivity of melanophores of a freshwater teleost, Zacco temmincki.
1. The melanophores of a freshwater teleost, Zacco temmincki, responded to changes in illumination: in darkness the melanophores induced a melanosome aggregation and when subjected to light they caused a melanosome dispersion. 2. Using monochromatic light, the spectral sensitivity of the melanophores was examined. 3. The melanophores showed a different sensitivity to light between 400 and 600 nm with a maximum at about 525 nm. 4. The action spectrum closely resembled a porphyropsin absorbance curve, suggesting a porphyropsin or similar photopigment is active in the melanophore light response of Zacco temmincki.
D000818:Animals; D003624:Darkness; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D008027:Light; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008547:Melanophores / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008722:Methods