Fig. 8

Phenotypic analysis of tyrb;csf1ra;tfec triple mutants at different developmental stages. (A) At 5 dpf, many melanophores, xanthophores, and iridophores were observed on the skin and iris of wild-type fish. (B) The body of ruby mutants was colorless and transparent due to the loss of visible melanophores, xanthophores and iridophores. (C) At 10 dpf, the skin of wild-type fish was covered by many pigment cells. (D) The body of ruby mutants remained colorless and transparent, with their internal organs clearly visible. (E, G) At 20 dpf, the body of wild-type fish was completely covered by pigment cells, many iridophores were observed in the abdomen. (F, H) The body of ruby mutants remained colorless and transparent, with their internal organs clearly visible. (I-L) At 40 and 60 dpf, compared with wild-type fish, the ruby mutants remained colorless and had good transparency. (M-N) At 120 dpf, the color pattern of wild-type fish tends to be stabilized, while mutants still lacked all types of pigment cells. (O-T) Some close-ups of ruby mutants were taken at 10 dpf, 20 dpf, 40 dpf, and 60 dpf, respectively. (U) Due to the increase in muscle thickness, the transparency was decreased, but internal organs such as gill filaments, liver, and intestine are still visible in mutants at 120 dpf. Red arrowheads indicate internal organs. Sp, Spleen; In, Intestine; Le, Lens; He, Heart; Br, Brain; Gf, Gill filaments; Sc, Spinal column; Cv, Cardinal vein; Li, Liver; scale bar in A-J, 1 mm; scale bar in K-L, 2 mm; scale bar in M-N, 2 cm; scale bar in O-T, 0.5 mm; scale bar in U, 1 cm.