α- and β-Adrenoceptors of zebrafish in melanosome movement: A comparative study between embryo and adult melanophores

► We study the function of α- and β-adrenoceptors on zebrafish melanophores. ► Both α1- and α2-adrenoceptors induce melanosome aggregation in adult zebrafish. ► The maturation of embryo melanophore α2-adrenoceptors is independent of innervation. ► α1-Adrenoceptor is not functional at these early stages of embryo melanophores. ► Adrenoceptors in developing melanophores are insensitive to classical antagonists.