Melanocytes and Melanin Pigmentation.pdfVIP

J. Soc. CosmeticChemists,19, 565-580 (Aug. 19, 1968) Melanocytesand Melanin Pigmentation* FUNAN HU, M.D. PresentedDecember6, 1567, New York 6¾ty Synopsis During their normal development,melanocytesundergochangesin size and shapeaswell as in enzymaticactivitiy. Their developmentalphasescanbestudiedin vitro. Young, mature, and old melanocytesare definedaccordingto their morphology,enzyme activity, and ultrastructure. The enzyme tyrosinasethat catalyzesthe hydroxylation of the melaninprecursortyrosineto dihydroxyphenylalanineand to dopaquinoneresidesin a minute cytoplasmicstructure in melanocytesknown as the premelanosome.The biosyn- thesisof melaninis regulatedby the availability of freetyrosineas a substrate.the presence of factorsthat activatetyrosinase,and the presenceor absenceof inhibitorsof tyrosinase. The colorof skin dependsnot somuchon the numberof mdanocytesin it but on the amount of melaningranulesthat the melanocytescansynthesizeanddistributeeitherin the epidermis or in the dermis. Deviationfrom normalfunctioningresultsin abnormalpigmentation. INTRODUCTION The colorof the skinis oneof mansmajorconcerns.This area naturally is of great interestto the cosmeticchemists. Skincolorvarieswith the over-allthicknessof the integument,the stateofvascularityandtheamountofthe pigmentin theskin. Accord- ingto EdwardsandDuntleythefiveprimarypigmentswhichcontribute to the colorof humanskinarecarotene(yellow),oxyhemoglobin(red), reducedhemoglobin(bluish),melanin,andmelanoid(1). Amongthese, * PublicationNo. 293 fromthe OregonRegionalPrimateResearchCenter,supported by Grant FR 00163 of the National Institutes of Health and Grant CA 08499 froin the National Cancer Institute. } OregonRegionalPrimaryResearchC