alpha-MSH and melanogenesis in normal human adult melanocytes

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