BACKGROUND: The growth of cells is closely related to components in a culture medium. There are many reports about cellular characteristics of melanocytes grown in a PMA-contained medium. However, only a few reports have been studied by using a physiologic mitogens-contained medium. To understand melanocyte in vivo, it is necessary to know the cellular biology of melanocytes grown in a physiologic mitogens-contained medium. OBJECTIVE: To investigate any differences between melanocytes grown in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate(PMA)-contained medium and in physiologic mitogens-contained medium. METHOD: We examined morphology, number and melanin contents of cultured human melanocytes grown in a PMA-contained medium and physiologic mitogens-, such as bFGF, ET-1 and a a-MSH contained medium. Result : The results are summarized as follows : 1. There were no significant morphologic differences between cells in PMA-contained medium and in physiologic mitogens-contained medium. 2. The number of melanocytes were significantly more numerous in PMA-contained medium on the 2nd day (p<0.05), but significantly less numerous in the same medium on the 6th day (p<0.05). So, the proliferation rate of melanocytes in PMA-contained medium became lower than in physiologic mitogens-contained medium as time went by. 3. Melanocytes grown in PMA-contained medium had significantly increased melanin contents regardless of the time (p<0.05). Conclusion : The proliferation of melanocytes was better in physiologic mitogens-contained medium, the melanization was higher in melanocytes of PMA-contained medium.
Humans* ; Melanins ; Melanocytes*