STUDIES ON THE PHYSIOLOGY OF UCA RED CHROMATOPHORES

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The red chromatophores of U. pugilator exhibit extensive changes in response to background, dispersing their pigment on a black one and concentrating it on white. In constant darkness these same chromatophores show a striking persistent diurnal rhythm, dispersing pigment in the daytime and concentrating it at night. The red and black chromatophores are capable of activities independently of one another, thereby indicating some difference in their endocrine control. Extracts of sinus glands and of various portions of the central nervous system all show, upon injn., an initial red-pigment concentrating action followed by a dispersing action. Evidence is presented to support an hypothesis that these 2 actions are due to the presence of 2 chromatophorotropins, a red-dispersing one and a red-concentrating one. The red-dispersing one appears to be identical with the principle which has been described elsewhere to disperse black pigment in the same sp.