02Jun 2023
Uric acid is a major chemical constituent for the whitish coloration in the medaka leucophores

Uric acid is a major chemical constituent for the whitish coloration in the medaka leucophores

In teleost fish skin, the white coloration is due to a light scattering phenomenon occurring in light-reflecting chromatophores, such as leucophores and iridophores. This study investigated the chemical composition of the materials in leucophores. The researchers used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy to analyze the materials extracted from scales, larvae, and individual chromatophores of the medaka fish. The results indicated that uric acid is a major component of the high refractive index materials in medaka leucophores, and it serves as a unique marker for investigating the presence of leucophores in fish. The whitish appearance of medaka leucophores is likely attributed to the light-scattering phenomenon in leucosomes, which contain concentrated uric acid.

  • #dermatology

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