Korean J Dermatol.  2005 Apr;43(4):450-454.

Skin Organ Culture Model for Evaluation of Melanin Pigmentation

• Lee JS
• Lee JY
• Choi YM
• Jung YS
• Kang WH
• Kang HY

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Skin organ culture is widely used as a tool to investigate skin biology or skin disease. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to develop an ideal skin organ culture model for evaluation of melanin pigmentation. METHODS: An air-liquid interface and submerged method were used. The histology of the cultured skin was studied with H&E stain. To examine the epidermal pigmentation, Fontana-Masson stain and NKI/beteb stain were performed. Pigment modifiers (arbutin, LY294002) were applied to the culture medium for 3 days as an air-liquid interface culture. RESULTS: The general architecture of the skin was well maintained for 5 days. The melanin pigment decreased during culture without change of the number of melanocytes. As expected from previous reports, the effect of pigment modifiers (arbutin, LY294002) on cultured skin was demonstrated. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that this skin organ culture model is useful in evaluating the melanin pigmentation

Keyword

Skin organ culture; Pigmentation

MeSH Terms

Biology
Melanins*
Melanocytes
Organ Culture Techniques*
Pigmentation*
Skin Diseases
Skin*
Melanins