Skin Organ Culture Model for Evaluation of Melanin Pigmentation / 대한피부과학회지

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