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Dual appearance of xanthophores, and ontogenetic changes in other pigment cells during early development of Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

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Abstract

Flatfishes display a left–right asymmetry that is unique in the animal kingdom. In order to clarify the mechanisms of the asymmetrical development of pigment cells, changes in pigment cell densities were examined in Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. During development from symmetrical larvae to asymmetrical juveniles, pigment cell densities were monitored on the skin on both the left side (ocular side in juvenile; eventually has two eyes) and the right side (blind side in juvenile; eventually has no eyes). A symmetrical and constant decrease was observed in leucophores and larval type melanophores. A mostly symmetrical (slightly delayed on the blind side) and constant increase in iridophores from metamorphosis was observed. Adult-type melanophores appeared and then increased only after metamorphosis on the ocular side. However, the pattern of xanthophores was complicated: they first existed symmetrically and decreased symmetrically until metamorphosis, and they later increased only on the ocular side. The dual appearance of the xanthophores, as well as the differences between their depths and sizes on the ocular and blind sides, may suggest the presence of two types of xanthophores—just as melanophores are well known to exhibit two types. The ontogenetic study of pigment cells described here is likely to help to elucidate the process of abnormal pigmentation in flatfishes.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the staff at Miyazu Station, National Center for Stock Enhancement, Fisheries Research Agency, and those at the Niigata Prefectural Fisheries and Marine Research Institute, for kindly supplying the Japanese flounder eggs. We are also grateful to the staff and the students at the Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University, for their assistance in rearing the fish and conducting experiments. This study was supported in part by Grants-in-Aid from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan to M. T.

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Author notes

  1. Masato Aritaki

    Present address: Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, Seikai National Fisheries Research Institute, Fisheries Research Agency, Taira, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, 851-2231, Japan

  2. Masaru Tanaka

    Present address: Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88999, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Applied BioSciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan

    Mitsuo Nakamura, Masaru Tanaka & Masatomo Tagawa

  2. Faculty of Marine Biosciences, Fukui Prefectural University, Obama, Fukui, 917-0003, Japan

    Tadahisa Seikai

  3. Miyako Station, National Center for Stock Enhancement, Fisheries Research Agency, Miyako, Iwate, 027-0097, Japan

    Masato Aritaki

  4. Maizuru Fisheries Research Station, Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University, Nagahama, Maizuru, Kyoto, 625-0086, Japan

    Reiji Masuda

  5. Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan

    Masaru Tanaka & Masatomo Tagawa

Authors
  1. Mitsuo Nakamura
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  2. Tadahisa Seikai
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  3. Masato Aritaki
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  4. Reiji Masuda
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  5. Masaru Tanaka
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  6. Masatomo Tagawa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Masatomo Tagawa.

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Nakamura, M., Seikai, T., Aritaki, M. et al. Dual appearance of xanthophores, and ontogenetic changes in other pigment cells during early development of Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus . Fish Sci 76, 243–250 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-009-0209-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-009-0209-7

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