Abstract：
Color changes and pattern formations can represent strategies of the utmost importance for the survival of individuals or of species. Previous studies have associated capture with the formation of blotches (areas with light color) of coral trout, but the regulatory mechanisms link the two are lacking. Here, we report that capture induced blotches formation within 4-5 seconds. The blotches disappeared after anesthesia dispersed the pigment cells and reappeared after electrical stimulation. Subsequently, combining immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy and chemical sympathectomy, we found blotches formation results from activation of catecholaminergic neurons below the pigment layer. Finally, the in vitro incubation and intraperitoneal injection of norepinephrine (NE) induced aggregation of chromatosomes and lightening of body color, respectively, suggesting that NE, a neurotransmitter released by catecholaminergic nerves, mediates blotches formation. Our results demonstrate that acute stress response-induced neuronal activity can drive rapid changes in body color, which enriches our knowledge of physiological adaptations in coral reef fish.
摘要：
颜色变化和图案形成可以代表对个体或物种生存至关重要的策略。先前的研究已经将捕获与珊瑚鳟鱼的斑点（浅色区域）的形成相关联，但是缺乏将两者联系起来的监管机制。这里,我们报道了捕获在4-5秒内诱导斑点形成。麻醉后斑点消失，分散了色素细胞，电刺激后再次出现。随后，结合免疫荧光，透射电子显微镜和化学交感神经切除术，我们发现斑点的形成是由色素层下面的儿茶酚胺能神经元的激活引起的。最后,体外孵育和腹腔注射去甲肾上腺素（NE）诱导染色体聚集和体色变浅，分别,暗示NE，儿茶酚胺能神经释放的神经递质，介导斑点形成。我们的结果表明，急性应激反应诱导的神经元活动可以驱动身体颜色的快速变化，这丰富了我们对珊瑚礁鱼生理适应的认识。
