Pigments and ultrastructures of pigment cells in xanthic sailfin mollies (Poecilia latipinna)

Electron micrographs of skin from xanthic (gold) sailfin mollies revealed numerous xanthophores, as well as scattered melanophores. The melanophores were seen to contain premelanosomes in various stages of development. This is consistent with the fact that xanthic mollies have been shown to be tyros...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inPigment cell research Vol. 4; no. 5-6; p. 240
Main Authors Blanchard, P D, Angus, R A, Morrison, R L, Frost-Mason, S K, Sheetz, J H
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Denmark 01.12.1991
Subjects
Animals
Chromatophores - chemistry
Chromatophores - ultrastructure
Melanophores - chemistry
Melanophores - ultrastructure
Pigments, Biological - analysis
Poecilia - anatomy & histology
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:Electron micrographs of skin from xanthic (gold) sailfin mollies revealed numerous xanthophores, as well as scattered melanophores. The melanophores were seen to contain premelanosomes in various stages of development. This is consistent with the fact that xanthic mollies have been shown to be tyrosinase positive. Melanosomes in xanthic mollies appear to develop by one of two pathways: 1) from an endoplasmic reticulum-derived vesicle which develops an internal lamellar framework, and 2) by fusion of multiple Golgi-derived vesicles which lack an internal lamellar framework. Analysis of the pigments in the skin of the xanthic mollies identified four colorless pteridine pigments (xanthopterin, isoxanthopterin, neopterin, and pterin) and a carotenoid with an absorbance spectrum similar to beta-carotene. It appears that, unlike some other poeciliid fishes, sailfin mollies do not use pteridine pigments for orange coloration. Rather, they appear to rely primarily on carotenoids.
ISSN:0893-5785
1600-0749
DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0749.1991.tb00447.x