Unusual responses of cultured Fundulus heteroclitus melanophores to epinephrine and ions, paradox of K+ versus Na+.

Fundulus heteroclitus melanophores were successfully cultured and maintained in culture for up to 2 months. Compared to other teleost melanophores in the fin, scale, or split fin preparation, the cultured melanophores show unusual responses to both epinephrine and ion solutions. First, they aggregated their melanosomes in response to concentrations of epinephrine as low as 10(-12) M. Second, the melanophores in a 6-day, or older, culture aggregated their melanosomes in response to both sodium and potassium ion solutions. This is in contrast to 4-day-old cultures (and reports of noncultured melanophores) where melanosomes are aggregated in response to potassium but dispersed in sodium ion solutions.