The physiology of flatfish chromatophores

Most flatfish, of the order Pleuronectiformes, possess a white lower side, and a brown or grey upper side. This upper side can display integumentary patterning with dark areas and colored or white spots. Chromatophores in flatfish are dermal and epidermal melanophores, as well as dermal xanthophores, erythrophores, iridophores, and leucophores, combinations of which contribute to the color and patterning. Cellular studies demonstrate pattern-related differences in numerical distribution between the types of chromatophores, and in their size, both of which will enhance contrast between areas of the pattern. As well as these morphological characteristics, there are also clear physiological differences, with melanophores from various areas of the patterns demonstrating differential responsiveness to background and to stress/excitement stimuli. Regulation of flatfish melanophore responses is predominantly neural, through the sympathetic nervous system; the pituitary hormones in these fish function in maintaining final equilibria in physiological adaptations to backgrounds. Melanophores from main components of patterns also respond differently in vitro to electrical stimulation, to pituitary hormones, and to sympathomimetic drugs and their antagonists. Sensitivity characteristics with alpha- and beta-adrenergic pharmacological reagents in vitro indicate the existence of a pattern-related balance in alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor mediation in melanophore regulation. The patterning mechanism is complex, with both morphological and physiological differences at the chromatophore level, as well as involvement of central processing and control, which remains to be analysed.