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Ultrastructure of pigment cells in wild type and color mutants of the Mexican axolotl

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Summary

The ultrastructure of wild type axolotl xanthophores and iridophores was compared with that of cells at the same location in mutant axolotls lacking these chromatophores. The xanthophores of wild type axolotls contain ovoid pterinosomes that are empty or contain a few small vesicles of fibers. In skin from axanthic animals cells that may be xanthoblasts are present at the location in which xanthophores occur in wild type skin; pterinosome-like granules are absent. In wild type peritoneum, long, narrow organelles that appear to be developing reflecting platelets were seen within iridophores. Neither of the axolotl mutants that lack iridophores, axanthic and melanoid, contain these “prereflecting” platelets. In contrast with the absence of prepigment organelles in these two mutants, albino integument contains cells filled with granules identified as premelanosomes. The defects in chromatophore development of the axanthic and melanoid mutants seem to occur prior to formation of prepigment organelles.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, USA

    Margaret K. Dunson

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  1. Margaret K. Dunson
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I am grateful to Dr. H. C. Dalton for advice and to Dr. P. Grun for the use of his electron microscopic facilities and for advice on techniques.

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Dunson, M.K. Ultrastructure of pigment cells in wild type and color mutants of the Mexican axolotl. Cell Tissue Res. 151, 259–268 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00222227

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00222227

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