EFFECTS OF SOAKING SOLUTIONS AND CHILLING TREATMENT ON PIGMENT MOVEMENTS IN THE ERYTHROPHORE OF THE RED-COLORED MARINE FISH BERYX-SPLENDENS

The effects of distilled water, salt solution, and chilling treatment on erythrosome movements in erythrophores of the red-colored marine fi sh were investigated to elucidate the mechanism for the inhibition of the red color expression by ice-cold sea water. Soaking in distilled w ater inhibited the erythrosome dispersion, while erythrosomes of the f ish soaked in 3.5% NaCl solution around 1 degrees C dispersed around 1 0 h after death, exhibiting a vivid red skin color. The chilling treat ment around 1 degrees C showed a slight inhibition of the appearance o f red skin color. These results suggested that ice-cold sea water shou ld not be used in order to reveal the vivid red skin color of marine f ish.