Ultrastructural analysis of iridophore organellogenesis in a lizard, Sceloporus graciosus (Reptilia: Phrynosomatidae)

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) data from the ultrastructure of lizard skin iridophores (reflective dermal chromatophores) are used to illustrate the organellogenesis of small rectangular reflecting platelets, which are the color-generating components of these cells. During the development of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of morphology (1931) Vol. 209; no. 2; p. 229
Main Authors Morrison, R L, Frost-Mason, S K
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.08.1991
Subjects
Animals
Chromatophores - ultrastructure
Lizards - anatomy & histology
Organelles - ultrastructure
Skin - ultrastructure
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Summary:Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) data from the ultrastructure of lizard skin iridophores (reflective dermal chromatophores) are used to illustrate the organellogenesis of small rectangular reflecting platelets, which are the color-generating components of these cells. During the development of reflecting platelets, crystals are deposited within double-membraned vesicles from electron-dense material located within the vesicles. The crystals are initially small but expanded lengthwise eventually to fill the vesicle that contains them. The inner membrane then tightly surrounds the crystal whereas the outer membrane is much more loosely associated with the inner-membrane-bound crystal. These observations allow discussion of the possible origin of the precursor double-membraned vesicles from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi-derived vesicles. A model is proposed that incorporates our findings and other published reports to explain the origin of the precursor double-membraned vesicles via three alternative pathways.
ISSN:0362-2525
DOI:10.1002/jmor.1052090209