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Ultrastructural demonstration of chemical modification of melanogenesis in hairless mouse skin

Journal Article · · Anat. Rec.; (United States)
; ; ; ; ;

We investigated chemical and physical modifications of the genetically determined ultrastructure of melanosomes. The flank skin of hairless mice was treated with ultraviolet energy (UV) shorter than 320 nm or with a combination of a photosensitizer and UV (PUVA treatment). All melanosomes in the induced melanocytes and those in resident melanocytes in the ear skin showed eumelanogenesis, although the degree of melanin deposition differed considerably according to the induction process. Eumelanogenesis was most advanced in the resident melanocytes while PUVA-induced melanocytes showed more immature premelanosomes. We then topically applied 4-tertiary butyl catechol on the skin. The depigmenting agent caused an appearance of pheomelanosomes. The alteration in melanogenesis was seen most distinctly in premelanosomes of the PUVA-induced cells. Altered ultrastructure was also observed in matured melanosomes; this change was most apparent in the resident melanocytes. These findings indicate that cells with eumelanogenesis may undergo pheomelanogenesis. The present study demonstrated effects of chemicals on genetically determined function of melanocytes by quantitative analysis of melanosome ultrastructure.

Research Organization:
Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco
OSTI ID:
5132152
Journal Information:
Anat. Rec.; (United States), Journal Name: Anat. Rec.; (United States) Vol. 202:2; ISSN ANREA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
ANTICOAGULANTS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
COUMARINS
DRUGS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FAR ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
HEMATOLOGIC AGENTS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
MELANIN
MICE
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PIGMENTS
PSORALEN
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOINDUCTION
RODENTS
SKIN
ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
VERTEBRATES