title: A multidisciplinary study of the extracutaneous pigment system of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.). A possible relationship between kidney disease and dopa oxidase activity level.
abstract: Infectious diseases and breeding conditions can influence fish health status. Furthermore it is well known that human and animal health are strongly correlated. In lower vertebrates melano-macrophage centres, clusters of pigment-containing cells forming the extracutaneous pigment system, are widespread in the stroma of the haemopoietic tissue, mainly in kidney and spleen. In fishes, melano-macrophage centres play an important role in the immune response against antigenic stimulants and pathogens. Hence, they are employed as biomarker of fish health status. We have investigated this cell system in the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) following the enzyme activities involved in melanin biosynthesis. We have found a possible relationship between kidney disease of farmed fishes and dopa oxidase activity level, suggesting it as an indicator of kidney disease. Moreover variations of dopa oxidase activity in extracutaneous pigment system have been observed with respect to environmental temperature. At last, for the first time, using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy (Femto-TA), we pointed out that pigment-containing cells of fish kidney tissue present melanin pigments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, 70124, Italy. Electronic address: marcella.arciuli@uniba.it.
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arciuli
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, 70124, Italy.
authors.forename: Adalberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brunetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fiocco
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil, Plant and Food Science, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, 70126, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zacchino
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil, Plant and Food Science, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, 70126, Italy.
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Centoducati
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, 70124, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aloi
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, 70124, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tommasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, 70124, Italy.
authors.forename: Arcangela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santeramo
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, 70124, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Nitto
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, 70124, Italy. Electronic address: anna.gallone@uniba.it.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture; D001492:Bass; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000201:enzymology*; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009397:Nephrocalcinosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000378:metabolism*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D056928:X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008543:Melanins; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D009195:Peroxidase; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase
keywords: Dopa oxidase; Extracutaneous melanogenesis; Melanins; Melano-macrophages; Peroxidase