title: Melanization stimulating factors in the integument of the Mugil cephalus and Dicertranchus labrax.
abstract: The pigment pattern expression resides in the chromatoblasts of the embryonic skin. The differentiation of these chromatoblasts is influenced by specific local factors such a melanization inhibiting factor (MIF) and a melanization-stimulating factor (MSF). We reveal the presence of these factors by means of a series of experiments on the skin of the marine species of fish Dicertranchus labrax and Mugil cephalus, each with different pigment pattern, the former having a light skin and the latter a darker one. Media conditioned by exposure to dorsal and/or ventral skin, stimulates the melanization of Xenopus laevis neural crest cells throughout a 3 day assay period. Similarly conditioned culture media tested on B16-F10 murine malignant melanocytes, revealed a considerable influence in enzymatic activities: dopachrome tautomerase (DCT), tyrosine hydroxylase and dopa oxidase. The use of media in a dose response basis suggests that the conditioned media may contain both melanophore stimulating and inhibiting factors. The results obtained may actually reflect the resultant activity of the two factors present.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Espinardo, Spain. adelinaz@um.es
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zuasti
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Martínez-Liarte
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Solano
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D008543:Melanins; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C042501:dopachrome isomerase