Ultraviolet radiation induces dose-dependent pigment dispersion in crustacean chromatophores.
Pigment dispersion in chromatophores as a response to UV radiation was investigated in two species of crustaceans, the crab Chasmagnathus granulata and the shrimp Palaemonetes argentinus. Eyestalkless crabs and shrimps maintained on either a black or a white background were irradiated with different UV bands. In eyestalkless crabs the significant minimal effective dose inducing pigment dispersion was 0.42 J/cm(2) for UVA and 2.15 J/cm(2) for UVB. Maximal response was achieved with 10.0 J/cm(2) UVA and 8.6 J/cm(2) UVB. UVA was more effective than UVB in inducing pigment dispersion. Soon after UV exposure, melanophores once again reached the initial stage of pigment aggregation after 45 min. Aggregated erythrophores of shrimps adapted to a white background showed significant pigment dispersion with 2.5 J/cm(2) UVA and 0.29 J/cm(2) UVC. Dispersed erythrophores of shrimps adapted to a black background did not show any significant response to UVA, UVB or UVC radiation. UVB did not induce any significant pigment dispersion in shrimps adapted to either a white or a black background. As opposed to the tanning response, which only protects against future UV exposure, the pigment dispersion response could be an important agent protecting against the harmful effects of UV radiation exposure.
Gouveia
Glauce Ribeiro
GR
Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas, Fisiologia Animal Comparada, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
Lopes
Thaís Martins
TM
Neves
Carla Amorim
CA
Nery
Luiz Eduardo Maia
LE
Trindade
Gilma Santos
GS
D000818:Animals; D003386:Brachyura / Q000502:physiology*; D002856:Chromatophores / Q000378:metabolism*; D003116:Color; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000378:metabolism*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D010860:Pigments, Biological