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Chromatophore development and cell interactions in the skin of xiphophorine fish

Chromatophorenentwicklung und Zellinteraktionen in der Haut von Fischen der GattungXiphophorus (Pisces, Poeciliidae)

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Summary

Regeneration-induced development of chromatophores in the skin of fish was used to study cell interactions affecting cell differentiation and cell destruction. The typical differentiation process of chromatophores in the regenerating fish skin is described with special interest in the differentiation of macro- and micromelanophores. Between micro- and macromelanophores two types of cell interactions were found:

  1. 1.

    The macromelanophores inhibit the differentiation of melanocytes and micromelanophores

  2. 2.

    the macromelanophores induce the destruction of micromelanophores in their vicinity.

These cell interactions are very specific to cell type, that means they are strictly limited to macro- and micromelanophores. On the other hand, the effectiveness of these cell interactions isnot limited to one genotype or one species of Xiphophorine fish. The inhibiting and the destruction-inducing influence of macromelanophores upon micromelanophores is shown for three different species of Xiphophorine fish. The role of cell interaction in chromatophore development is discussed.

Zusammenfassung

Die Entwicklung von Chromatophoren in regenerierender Haut von Fischen der GattungXiphophorus wurde als Modell zur Untersuchung von Zellinteraktionen benutzt. Der Ablauf der Chromatophorenentwicklung nach Induktion durch Entfernen der Haut wird beschrieben unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Melanophorendifferenzierung. Zwischen Makro- und Mikromelanophoren, die in der Haut der Xiphophorini vorkommen, existieren folgende Wechselwirkungen:

  1. 1.

    die Makromelanophoren inhibieren die Differenzierung von Melanocyten und Mikromelanophoren

  2. 2.

    die Makromelanophoren induzieren den Abbau von vollentwickelten Mikromelanophoren in ihrer Nachbarschaft.

Diese Makro-Mikromelanophoren-Wechselwirkungen, sind außerordentlich zelltyp-spezifisch. Sie sind unabhängig vom Fischgenotyp in der Haut verschiedener Fischarten der GattungXiphophorus wirksam. Sie sind auch dann nachweisbar, wenn Makromelanophoren der einen Fischart in die Haut einer anderen Fischart implantiert werden. Die Rolle der Zellinteraktionen für die Pigmentmusterbildung wird diskutiert.

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  1. Erwin R. Schmidt

    Present address: Arbeitsgruppe Entwicklungsphysiologie der Tiere, Ruhr-Universität, D-4630, Bochum, Federal Republic of Germany

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  1. Genetisches Institut der Justus Liebig-Universität, Giessen, Federal Republic of Germany

    Erwin R. Schmidt

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Schmidt, E.R. Chromatophore development and cell interactions in the skin of xiphophorine fish. Wilhelm Roux' Archiv 184, 115–134 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00848221

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