Morphological and molecular characterization of dietary-induced pseudo-albinism during post-embryonic development of Solea senegalensis (Kaup, 1858).

TitleMorphological and molecular characterization of dietary-induced pseudo-albinism during post-embryonic development of Solea senegalensis (Kaup, 1858).
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2013
AuthorsDarias, M, Andree, KB, Boglino, A, Rotllant, J, Cerdá-Reverter, JMiguel, Estévez, A, Gisbert, E
JournalPLoS One
Volume8
Issue7
Paginatione68844
Date Published2013
ISSN1932-6203
KeywordsAlbinism, Animals, Arachidonic Acid, Artemia, Chromatophores, Diet, Fish Proteins, Flatfishes, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Larva, Melanophores, Skin Pigmentation
Abstract

The appearance of the pseudo-albino phenotype was investigated in developing Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis, Kaup 1858) larvae at morphological and molecular levels. In order to induce the development of pseudo-albinos, Senegalese sole larvae were fed Artemia enriched with high levels of arachidonic acid (ARA). The development of their skin pigmentation was compared to that of a control group fed Artemia enriched with a reference commercial product. The relative amount of skin melanophores, xanthophores and iridophores revealed that larval pigmentation developed similarly in both groups. However, results from different relative proportions, allocation patterns, shapes and sizes of skin chromatophores revealed changes in the pigmentation pattern between ARA and control groups from 33 days post hatching onwards. The new populations of chromatophores that should appear at post-metamorphosis were not formed in the ARA group. Further, spatial patterns of distribution between the already present larval xanthophores and melanophores were suggestive of short-range interaction that seemed to be implicated in the degradation of these chromatophores, leading to the appearance of the pseudo-albino phenotype. The expression profile of several key pigmentation-related genes revealed that melanophore development was promoted in pseudo-albinos without a sufficient degree of terminal differentiation, thus preventing melanogenesis. Present results suggest the potential roles of asip1 and slc24a5 genes on the down-regulation of trp1 expression, leading to defects in melanin production. Moreover, gene expression data supports the involvement of pax3, mitf and asip1 genes in the developmental disruption of the new post-metamorphic populations of melanophores, xanthophores and iridophores.

DOI10.1371/journal.pone.0068844
Alternate JournalPLoS ONE
PubMed ID23874785
PubMed Central IDPMC3712922