mel·a·no·phore

(mel'ă-nō-fōr'),

A dermal pigment cell that does not secrete its pigment granules but participates in rapid color changes by intracellular aggregation and dispersal of melanosomes; it is well developed in fish, amphibians, and reptiles, but absent in humans.

[melano- + G. phoros, bearing]

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

melanophore

(mĕl′ə-nə-fôr′, mə-lăn′ə-)

A brown or black melanin-containing chromatophore found in the skin of a fish, amphibian, or reptile.

melanophore

A melanocyte that contains eumelanin, found in lower animals, which has contractile properties that cause the translocation of melanosomes, resulting in rapid adaptive changes in colouration.

mel·a·no·phore

(mel'ă-nō-fōr')

[melano- + G. phoros, bearing]

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

melanophore

melanocyte

a type of pigment cell (or CHROMATOPHORE) that contains the pigment melanin, usually found in the skin of animals. It has a protective or camouflage function.

Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

Transformation of amphibian irido-phores into melanophores in clonal culture.

Novel dichromatic chromatophores in the integument of the mandarin fish synchiropus splendidus

The term "band" refers to an aggregation of melanophores oriented vertically; "bar" refers to an aggregation that is oriented horizontally.

Description of early life history stages of the northern sculpin (Icelinus borealis Gilbert) (Teleostei: Cottidae)

The head remained unpigmented until day 36 when melanophores appeared on the snout, forebrain, midbrain, and nape (Fig.

Description of embryonic development of Atka mackerel (Pleurogrammus monopterygius)

Nussbaum (1969) also stated that hatchlings have their dorsal melanophores arranged in distinct rings, which form 2 rows along the back; our captive-reared hatchling also had this pattern (Fig.

OLYMPIC TORRENT SALAMANDER (RHYACOTRITON OLYMPICUS) OVIPOSITION SITE WITH NOTES ON EARLY DEVELOPMENT

Physiological color change of melanophores can also be regulated based on the color of the background environment (Logan et al., 2006).

Social Status-Related Differences in Motor Activity Between Wild-Type and Mutant Zebrafish

To explore the biological action of SL in hepatocytes, we produced and purified recombinant tilapia SL protein which could induce pigment aggregation in tilapia melanophores. Further, the antiserum for the SL was produced and its specificity was confirmed by antiserum preabsorption.

Production and purification of recombinant Somatolactin and its Effects on insulin-like growth factors gene expression in tilapia hepatocytes

helvomaculatus ([greater than or equal to] 1 melanophore on the caudal peduncle to at least 8.4 mm versus none by 7.7 mm, respectively).

Early larvae of the swordspine rockfish (Sebastes ensifer) identified by molecular methods

[107] Melanophore pattern on pectoral fin (Costa 1998a) (CI: 0.33; RI: 0): (0) no distinctive marks; (1) spots; (2) bars [unordered].

Relationships and taxonomy of the killifish genus Rivulus (Cyprinodontiformes: Aplocheiloidei: Rivulidae) from the Brazilian Amazonas river basin, with notes on historical ecology

Arena is developing a broad pipeline of compounds that act on an important class of drug targets called G protein-coupled receptors, or GPCRs, using its knowledge of GPCRs and its technologies, including CART (Constitutively Activated Receptor Technology) and Melanophore. Arena has three internally discovered, clinical-stage product candidates.

Arena issued patent for 5-HT2A receptor modulators

Mississippi Silversides also have a much finer and reticulated melanophore pattern on dorsolateral scales consisting of a single row of finely divided melanophores bordering each scale in contrast to several rows of darker concentrated cells in the native species.

Expansion of the non-native Mississippi Silverside, Menidia audens (Pisces, Atherinopsidae), into fresh and marine waters of coastal southern California

1, with melanophore distributions highlighted in Panels E and F-G, respectively.

Low but stable frequency of xanthic phenotypes in a population of the twoline pupfish, Cyprinodon bifasciatus