Birds' feather's colours are synthesised in their livers, not skins.Byline: ANI Washington, Apr 16 (ANI): Contrary to previous beliefs, the red carotenoids Carotenoids Carotenoids are yellow to deep-red pigments. Mentioned in: Vitamin A Deficiency carotenoids (k that provide the red colouration Noun 1. colouration - the timbre of a musical sound; "the recording fails to capture the true color of the original music" coloration, color, colour in the Common Crossbill The Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It breeds in the spruce forests of North America, where it is known as Red Crossbill is synthesised in the bird's liver and not its skin, according to a new study. The findings revealed by Esther del Val, from the National History Museum in Barcelona, Spain, have implications for understanding the evolution of colour signalling in bird species. Carotenoids have important physiological functions, including antioxidant antioxidant, substance that prevents or slows the breakdown of another substance by oxygen. Synthetic and natural antioxidants are used to slow the deterioration of gasoline and rubber, and such antioxidants as vitamin C (ascorbic acid), butylated hydroxytoluene , immunomodulating, and photoprotectant properties. Many bird species use carotenoid Carotenoid Any of a class of yellow, orange, red, and purple pigments that are widely distributed in nature. Carotenoids are generally fat-soluble unless they are complexed with proteins. pigments as colourants, which are responsible for most of their red, orange and yellow coloration. Particularly, it has been shown that carotenoid-red colouration in birds act as an ornament, signalling the nutritional and health status of the individual and its ability to locate high quality resources. In recent studies, scientists have suggested that the transformation of carotenoid pigments takes place directly in the follicles follicles, n the masses that are embedded in a meshwork of reticular fibers within the lobules of the thyroid gland. See also thyroid gland. during feather growth. However, the latest research has for the first time shown that contrary to previous assumptions, the liver acts as the main site for the synthesis of carotenoids responsible for the birds' coloration, not the skin. The researchers examined the carotenoid content of the liver, blood, skin and feathers of seven common crossbills (finches) in which adult males display carotenoid-based coloration on the throat, breast and rump. They were particularly interested in the anatomical origin of the birds' red plumage plumage, of birds: see feathers. . The primary red feather pigment of male crossbills was found in the birds' liver and blood, which implied that that the carotenoids are synthesized in the liver and then travel to the peripheral tissues via the bloodstream. Del Val concluded: "This surprising divergence with previous studies raises the question whether there are inter-specific differences in anatomical sites for conversion of carotenoids. Understanding inter-specific variation in mechanisms of colour production may be the key to comprehend the different evolutionary pathways involved in colour signalling." The study has been published online in Springer's journal Naturwissenschaften. (ANI) Copyright 2009 Asian News International The Asian News International (ANI) agency provides multimedia news to China and 50 bureaus in India. It covers virtually all of South Asia since its foundation and presently claims, on its official website, to be the leading South Asia-wide news agency. (ANI) - All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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