Tyrosine Hydroxylase-Immunopositive Cells and Melanin in the Mesencephalon of Yugan Black-Bone Fowl

Meng Chu; Yangquan Liu; Yu Si; Hang Yu; Yaqiong Ye; Haiquan Zhao; Hui Zhang

doi:10.4103/JMAU.JMAU_50_20

Tyrosine Hydroxylase-Immunopositive Cells and Melanin in the Mesencephalon of Yugan Black-Bone Fowl

J Microsc Ultrastruct. 2021 Feb 9;10(1):20-22. doi: 10.4103/JMAU.JMAU_50_20. eCollection 2022 Jan-Mar.

Authors

Meng Chu¹, Yangquan Liu¹, Yu Si¹, Hang Yu¹, Yaqiong Ye¹, Haiquan Zhao¹, Hui Zhang^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan 528231, China.
² Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China.

Abstract

Background: The Yugan blackbone fowl (YBF) is a special poultry with hyperpigmentation in various organs, including feather. However, the mechanism of hyperpigmentation is limited, and the melanic information of other organs except skin is rare.

Aims and objectives: In this study, we attempt to get an insight of the mechanism of melanogenesis of birds.

Materials and methods: The mesencephalon of YBF was observed by light microscopy with hematoxylineosin and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry.

Results: The TH immunopositive cells were found in the mesencephalon. Moreover, the melanin was also observed in the connective tissue of the mesencephalon.

Conclusion: Our results confirmed the existence of melanin andTH immunopositive cells in the mesencephalon of YBF. These results provide a reference for further study on the mechanism of melanogenesis/hyperpigmentation in birds.

Keywords: Chicken; immunohistochemistry; melanin; tyrosine hydroxylase.