Adrenocorticotropic Hormone and Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate are Involved in the Control of Shark Bioluminescence |
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| Authors: | Laurent Duchatelet Jérôme Delroisse Nicolas Pinte Keiichi Sato Hsuan-Ching Ho Jérôme Mallefet |
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| Institution: | 1. Marine Biology Laboratory, Earth and Life Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium;2. Research Institute for Biosciences, Biology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium;3. Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Motobu-cho, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan;4. National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Checheng, Pingtung, Taiwan |
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| Abstract: | Among Etmopteridae and Dalatiidae, luminous species use hormonal control to regulate bioluminescence. Melatonin (MT) triggers light emission and, conversely, alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) actively reduces ongoing luminescence. Prolactin (PRL) acts differentially, triggering light emission in Etmopteridae and inhibiting it in Dalatiidae. Interestingly, these hormones are also known as regulators of skin pigment movements in vertebrates. One other hormone, the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), also members of the skin pigmentation regulators, is here pharmacologically tested on the light emission. Results show that ACTH inhibits luminescence in both families. Moreover, as MT and α-MSH/ACTH receptors are members of the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) family, we investigated the effect of hormonal treatments on the cAMP level of photophores through specific cAMP assays. Our results highlight the involvement of ACTH and cAMP in the control of light emission in sharks and suggest a functional similarity between skin pigment migration and luminescence control, this latter being mediated by pigment movements in the light organ-associated iris-like structure cells. |
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