Summary
Structural changes in drosopterinosomes (red pigment granules) of Rana japonica in the process of erythrophore differentiation were studied by light and electron microscopy. On the basis of the degree of pterinosome differentiation, three types can be recognized: Typ-I drosopterinosomes appear first during metamorphosis and have clear limiting membranes and amorphous materials within. Those of type-II are found in abundance shortly after metamorphosis and have inner structures, consisting of fibrillae and/or small lamellae in dense concentric arrangement. Type-III is found abundantly in adults and acquires an almost homogeneously electron-dense mature morphology, probably from the deposition of electron-dense materials. On the basis of counts of pterinosomes, a successive transformation from type I to III is suggested. The differences among red drosopterinosomes, yellow sepiapterinosomes in xanthophore and melanosomes are not always distinguishable electron microscopically. Discrimination is possible by careful examination of lamellar patterns characteristic of the respective granules and by a simultaneous application of light and electron microscopy. From this viewpoint, a re-evaluation of the identification of granules previously reported was effected.
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This work was supported by a grant in aid to T. H. from the Ministry of Education (No. 92112, 1971).
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Yasutomi, M., Hama, T. Structural changes of drosopterinosomes (red pigment granules) during the erythrophore differentiation of the frog, Rana japonica, with reference to other pigment-containing organelles. Z.Zellforsch 137, 331–343 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307207
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307207