ALPHA-MSH AND MELANOGENESIS IN NORMAL HUMAN ADULT MELANOCYTES

Normal human skin melanocytes do not pigment consistently to alpha-mel anocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) in culture, The aim of this st udy was to establish media conditions in which to obtain a reproducibl e melanogenic response to alpha-MSH in these cells, Twenty-five media of varying mitogen composition were examined. As previously noted by o ther workers, melanocyte morphology and proliferation are greatly affe cted by media composition. However, under the majority of media condit ions that supported melanocyte survival and proliferation, cells did n ot respond to alpha-MSH with any consistent increase in dopa oxidase a ctivity or melanin content. In only one medium condition, where basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was the sole mitogen present, alpha-MS H induced both an increase in dopa oxidase activity (at 48%) and in me lanin content (of 283%).