FIGURE 2

Validation of the melanocyte regeneration model and quantitative analysis of the DEGs at the proliferation and differentiation stages (A) Zebrafish melanocyte regeneration within 15 days after 1 day of neocuproine (NCP) treatment. Control zebrafish with standard stripe patterns on the body, including the caudal fin, before NCP treatment (0 dpa). Melanocytes were lost gradually, starting at 1 dpa, and extruded out of the skin at 4 dpa when the stripe pattern was not visible anymore. Melanocytes started to become visible at 7 dpa. At 15 dpa, melanocyte regeneration was completed, and the stripe pattern was re-established. Scale bars are 5 mm (whole fish on the left) and 2 mm (close-ups on the right). (B) Principal component analysis (PCA) of proliferative (1 dpa) and differentiation (7 dpa) stages of melanocyte regeneration and their controls. Different colors of dots and triangles represent the sample condition. Three sample groups were well clustered among their replicates and separated from other sample groups. Principal Component 1 (PC1, x-axis) represents 38%, and PC2 (y-axis) represents 19% of the total variation in the data. dpa, days post-ablation; ctrl, control; PC, principal component.