Animal models of an acquired pigmentary disorder--vitiligo

Vitiligo appears to be a complex disorder that involves a melanocyte dysfunction and/or an autoimmune response. Further investigations of the animal models described in this report, and the less well-studied models that exist, is needed to clarify the mechanisms of this disorder. Three additional animal lines which appear potentially to be excellent animal models for vitiligo are: the Barred Plymouth Rock chicken which exhibits periodic degenerating melanocytes presumably due to a cytotoxic agent (Bowers et al, 1986), the White Leghorn chicken which exhibits preprogrammed melanocyte autophagocytosis (Jimbow et al, 1974), and the Duroc pig which exhibits spontaneous tumor regression and depigmentation (Hordinsky, personal communication). These numerous animal studies must be undertaken with the understanding that the specific etiologies and characteristics differ among these animal models and that each model represents only a facet of the complex condition, vitiligo. To unravel the complexity of this syndrome, the insightful correlation of the results of many investigators working with multiple model systems is required.