Background color may modulate seawater adaptability in fish

我们以前发现，在白色背景下饲养的马苏鲑鱼（Oncorhynchus masou）比在黑色背景下饲养的鲑鱼表现出更好的海水适应性。在这里，我们调查的协会下丘脑-垂体系统，其中激素的生产变化响应于背景颜色的变化，与海水的适应性和电解质代谢。获得了以下重要结果。首先，饲养在白色背景下的樱花钩吻鲑的体色变浅，鳃中的Na + K + ATP酶（NKA）活性增加。其次，在体内处理黑色素浓缩激素，这是在下丘脑，增加鳃NKA活性。最后，黑色素浓集激素受体基因的表达被检测到在鳃氯细胞。这些结果表明，背景颜色影响鳃黑色素浓集激素的调节。

We previously found that masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou) reared on a white background showed better seawater adaptability than those reared on a black background. Herein, we investigated the association of the hypothalamo-pituitary system, in which the production of hormones varies in response to background color changes, with seawater adaptability and electrolyte metabolism. The following important results were obtained. Firstly, rearing masu salmon on a white background resulted in a paler body color and an increase in the activity of Na+K+ATPase (NKA) in gills. Secondly, in vivo treatment with melanin-concentrating hormone, which is produced in the hypothalamus, increased gill NKA activity. Finally, expression of the melanin-concentrating hormone receptor gene was detected in the chloride cells in gills. These results suggest that background color influences osmoregulation in gills via melanin-concentrating hormone.