Methods of Estimating the Effects of Melanophore Changes on Animal Coloration

Abstract

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Fabricating Gradient Transparency: A Bio-Inspired Digital Design Model and Prototyping Methods

“…This method uses only pigment density to create less or more transparency. The eye and ear areas are treated in analogy with the biological Punctate melanophore clusters (area with high pigment density) and the Reticulate (Branching) melanophore clusters 23,24 that are already studied in the first phase of this project. The parametric model allows using the eye and ear curves either as attractors and repellers, creating inverted geometry conditions.…”

“…Further research aims at testing different ways to control the pigment transparency in real time. One of the options would be to add microtubes, just like melanophore cells are connected in biological organisms 23,24 within the computational model that interconnect the pigments geometries. In such a scenario, following Method A with a single material would allow us to have architectural surfaces that change from transparent to patterned surfaces with varying transparency using liquids like Ferofluid 27 and electromagnets.…”

Transitory colour changes in the new melanophores formed by quantitative colour change in the minnow Phoxinus phoxinus

“…Various methods have been used for estimating the state of pigment dispersion in melanophores (Parker, 1934(Parker, , 1943Brown, 1936;Wykes, 1937;Hogben & Landgrebe, 1940;Neil], 1940;Healey, 1948Healey, , 1951Gray, 1956, adapted from Healey). In the present experiments the most suitable method was to kill the animals in liquid nitrogen and fix them in Bouin's fluid.…”

On differential responses of the melanophores of the Paradise fish, Macropodus opercularis

“…The study of the state of melanin dispersion under experimental conditions has presented considerable difficulties in the past, both in living animals and in preparations of their skin. For the latter the usual method employed has been either to decapitate the animal and place it in a hot fixative or to kill it in hot water and then place it in fixative (Parker, 1934(Parker, , 1943Brown, 1936;Wykes, 1937). These procedures were unsatisfactory, for the former entailed unavoidable handling resulting in melanin movement which continued for a short time after the animal was in fixative, while the latter often caused serious damage to the tissues accompanied by changes in the state of dispersion of the melanin.…”