| The pigmentary system of the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) serves as an enduring system, providing insight into cell migration, pigment-cell differentiation, and pigment-cell interactions. Melanophore development has been studied extensively, but relatively little is known about mechanisms involved in xanthophore development. This study examines the possible effects of the xanthophore lineage on pigment pattern formation by (1) analyzing melanophore/xanthophore interactions, in vitro and (2) identifying fms, a potential xanthophore specific gene. Melanophore/xanthophore interactions were assessed using the Paired Quadrat Variance (PQV) statistical analysis. Interestingly, majority of neural crest cells were arranged in a clumped spatial distribution. RT-PCR was used to identify fms, a potential xanthophore-specific gene, in hatching stage axolotl. Sequence annotations of the fms fragment in the axolotl provided evidence that fms in the axolotl is more similar to fms in higher vertebrates and most likely responsible in macrophage and osteoclast proliferation. |
