|
|
|
| Types and Number of Chromatophores and Carotenoid Contents in Various Parts of Blood Parrot (Amphilophus) |
| MU Chunyan,ZHENG Shuming,REN Shengjie,RAO Yuan,CHEN Pengyu |
|
|
|
|
Abstract The morphology and number of chromatophores and carotenoids contents were observed in blood parrot with various body colors including black ,black‐yellow ,yellow ,and red colors under a microscope and measured by ultraviolet visible spectrophotometer .The results showed that the black blood parrots had many dendritic and dot shaped melanoma cells containing a lot of melanin granules ,and had a small amount of yellow pigment cells with light color on the whole body .The center cell body diffusion ,slender branches ,and weak aggregation in the dendritic melanocytes with brown black pigment granules were found in black yellow blood parrot with many large black yellow chromatophores .A large amount of yellow pigment cells was distributed on the whole body of black yellow blood parrot ,with a few melanocytes .The red pigment cells were covered on the red blood parrot body ,with scarce melanin cells and small amount of yellow pigment cells .There were significant differences in carotenoid contents in flesh ,scales ,fins and skins between red color blood parrots and black ,black‐yellow ,and yellow blood parrots (P<0 .01) ,without significant difference in carotenoid contents in the black ,black‐yellow ,and yellow blood parrots (P>0 .05) .The findings provides a theoretical basis with further study on mechanism of chromatophorogenesis .
|
|
Received: 25 August 2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
