Effects of light intensity on erythrophore number and astaxanthin amount in the skin of coral trout Plectropomus leopardus
Numerous studies have reported that environmental background color alters the skin color of aquaculture fish. In the present study, we investigated the effects of light intensity on skin coloration, chromatophores numbers, astaxanthin content and gene expression in 7-month-old coral trout Plectropom...
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Aquaculture Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352513425002698 |
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| author | Nannan Zhao Jin Gao Shuyuan Fu Shi Xi Chen |
| author_facet | Nannan Zhao Jin Gao Shuyuan Fu Shi Xi Chen |
| author_sort | Nannan Zhao |
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| description | Numerous studies have reported that environmental background color alters the skin color of aquaculture fish. In the present study, we investigated the effects of light intensity on skin coloration, chromatophores numbers, astaxanthin content and gene expression in 7-month-old coral trout Plectropomus leopardus. After been feeding astaxanthin-free diet (AFD) for 30 days, the fish in control group (under natural light) showed little change in skin color. In contrast, the skin color of fish in light-treat group (under 300 lux white light) changed from dark-brown to orange-red, associated with erythrophores number increase, xanhtrophores number reduction and astaxanthin amount increase on the skin. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that several genes related to carotenoid transport, metabolism, cell apoptosis and autophagy show significant variation between the light-treat and control groups. These results suggest that background light intensity affect the proliferation of erythrophores and the acquisition of astaxanthin in the skin of coral trout. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-00089c29b3b14417b6cc5cf90b87c821 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2352-5134 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aquaculture Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-00089c29b3b14417b6cc5cf90b87c8212025-08-20T04:00:27ZengElsevierAquaculture Reports2352-51342025-09-014310288310.1016/j.aqrep.2025.102883Effects of light intensity on erythrophore number and astaxanthin amount in the skin of coral trout Plectropomus leopardusNannan Zhao0Jin Gao1Shuyuan Fu2Shi Xi Chen3Yantai Institute of Coastal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 17, Chunhui Road, Laishan District, Yantai, Shandong 264003, ChinaHainan Academy of Ocean and Fisheries Sciences, Haikou, China; Hainan Tropical Ocean University Yazhou Bay Innovation Institute, Sanya, ChinaHainan Academy of Ocean and Fisheries Sciences, Haikou, China; Hainan Tropical Ocean University Yazhou Bay Innovation Institute, Sanya, China; Corresponding author at: Hainan Academy of Ocean and Fisheries Sciences, Haikou, China.Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China; Corresponding author.Numerous studies have reported that environmental background color alters the skin color of aquaculture fish. In the present study, we investigated the effects of light intensity on skin coloration, chromatophores numbers, astaxanthin content and gene expression in 7-month-old coral trout Plectropomus leopardus. After been feeding astaxanthin-free diet (AFD) for 30 days, the fish in control group (under natural light) showed little change in skin color. In contrast, the skin color of fish in light-treat group (under 300 lux white light) changed from dark-brown to orange-red, associated with erythrophores number increase, xanhtrophores number reduction and astaxanthin amount increase on the skin. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that several genes related to carotenoid transport, metabolism, cell apoptosis and autophagy show significant variation between the light-treat and control groups. These results suggest that background light intensity affect the proliferation of erythrophores and the acquisition of astaxanthin in the skin of coral trout.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352513425002698Light intensitySkin colorErythrophoresAstaxanthinGene expression level |
| spellingShingle | Nannan Zhao Jin Gao Shuyuan Fu Shi Xi Chen Effects of light intensity on erythrophore number and astaxanthin amount in the skin of coral trout Plectropomus leopardus Aquaculture Reports Light intensity Skin color Erythrophores Astaxanthin Gene expression level |
| title | Effects of light intensity on erythrophore number and astaxanthin amount in the skin of coral trout Plectropomus leopardus |
| title_full | Effects of light intensity on erythrophore number and astaxanthin amount in the skin of coral trout Plectropomus leopardus |
| title_fullStr | Effects of light intensity on erythrophore number and astaxanthin amount in the skin of coral trout Plectropomus leopardus |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of light intensity on erythrophore number and astaxanthin amount in the skin of coral trout Plectropomus leopardus |
| title_short | Effects of light intensity on erythrophore number and astaxanthin amount in the skin of coral trout Plectropomus leopardus |
| title_sort | effects of light intensity on erythrophore number and astaxanthin amount in the skin of coral trout plectropomus leopardus |
| topic | Light intensity Skin color Erythrophores Astaxanthin Gene expression level |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352513425002698 |
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