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Transitory colour changes in the new melanophores formed by quantitative colour change in the minnow Phoxinus phoxinus
Author(s) -
Ahmad R. U.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1974.tb03158.x
Subject(s) - chromatophore , phoxinus , minnow , biology , melanophore , zoology , anatomy , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery
Minnows (TeJeosiei: Phoxinus phoxinus (L.)) were exposed on a black background for varying periods to allow melanophore formation. The ages and times of appearance of melanophores were photographically determined. The background responses of the newly‐formed melanophores were assessed microscopically in fixed preparations of animals killed in liquid nitrogen at different time‐intervals. The results were interpreted according to the generally accepted belief that rapid and slow colour changes indicate nervous and hormonal mediation respectively. The age of the newly‐formed melanophores appeared to influence their background responses, the older melanophores being more responsive. It is suggested that the sensitivity to hormonal control develops first in the life of a pigment cell, to be followed later by sensitivity to nervous control. Nervous control, however, does not appear simultaneously for W/B and B/W adaptations but develops first for the latter. This differential development is considered to provide evidence for double innervation of melanophores.