鳜不同图案类型皮肤中间隙连接蛋白基因Cx39.4与Cx41.8表达分析

Analysis of Cx39.4 and Cx41.8 gene expression in skin of two different color patterns of Mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi

间隙连接蛋白(connexin,Cx)是影响色素细胞间信息交流的重要因子,对鱼类皮肤图案的形成起着重要的作用。以鳜(Siniperca chuatsi)不同图案类型(普通型:皮肤图案包含若干明显的条、带或斑块,无规则型:图案为短、碎的无规则条纹)为研究对象,对皮肤组织中的黑色素细胞进行切片观察,并测定间隙连接蛋白基因Cx39.4、Cx41.8表达特征。结果显示:普通型黑色素细胞分布区域特征性明显,躯干图案区域(纵带和斑块)黑色素细胞大量聚集,排列较为紧密;无规则型黑色素细胞分布松散无规律。普通型躯干区域(纵带、斑块和非图案)连接蛋白基因Cx39.4与Cx41.8表达水平高于头部(过眼条纹)区域;无规则型躯干区域连接蛋白基因Cx39.4表达水平与普通型无明显差异,连接蛋白基因Cx41.8表达水平极显著低于普通型。结果表明,间隙连接蛋白基因Cx41.8表达水平差异可能影响黑色素细胞的分布与排列,进而影响鳜皮肤图案类型。

Connexin(Cx)is one of important factors affecting the information exchange between pigment cells,and it plays an important role in the formation of skin patterns in fish.In this study,melanophores in the skin tissues were observed and gene expression of Cx39.4 and Cx41.8 were investigated in two different skin pattern types of Siniperca chuatsi(Common types:the pattern contains several distinct strips,bands or spots;Irregular types:short,broken,irregular stripes).The results show that,the specific area of melanophores is distinctive in common types,and a large number of melanophores are concentrated and arranged closely in the trunk pattern(bands and spots),while melanophores is loosely and irregularly distributed in the irregular types.In the common types,the expression levels of Cx39.4 and Cx41.8 in the trunk area(bands,spots and non-pattern area)were higher than those in the head area(eye strip).In trunk area of the irregular type,the expression level of Cx39.4 gene is not significantly different with the common type,but the expression level of Cx41.8 gene was significant lower than that in the common type.The results showed that Cx41.8 may have some effect on the arrangement and distribution of the melanophores,thereby affecting the formation of the skin patterns.