Cutaneous Pigment Cell Distributions and Skin Structure of Xenopus

Pigment cells not only are intrinsic factors to determine animal patterns, but also play vital roles in numerous behavioral and physiological processes as well as health, such as melanomas originating from melanocytes. Model organisms are commonly used to study pigment cell development and the mechanisms underlying related diseases, with zebrafish and mice, and Xenopus being well-established examples. Xenopus tropicalis, a diploid amphibian model, offers advantages such as high fecundity and easily observable pigment cell development. Recent advancements in gene-editing techniques have increased its prominence in research on pigment cell biology and melanoma pathogenesis. Here, we compare the skin pigment cell distribution as well as the skin structure in X. tropicalis, zebrafish, mice, and humans and point out the potential value of using X. tropicalis to model human skin diseases, such as melanoma.