Detection of melanin in the rat skin

Abstract

Melanogenesis disorder is called dyschromia, is involved in various conditions including vitiligo, solar lentigo, and melanoma, the last of which is the most malignant type of skin cancer.

Aim: The aim of study was focused on histological visualization of melanogenic system.

Materials and methods: To investigate the roles of melanocytes and melanin, we used a rat skin as an experimental animal. Samples were stained using hematoxylin-eosin, the Schmorl's technique, the Fontana-Masson technique, the Warthin-Starry technique, and the S100 immunohistochemistry marker technique. Microscopy images were analyzed using the ImageJ free software protocol.

Results: We found Fontana-Masson staining to be the most suitable for obtaining reliable results compared with the other methods, which had more disadvantages. We also found the S100 marker staining to be an effective tool for measuring the melanocyte count.

Conclusions: We consider the ImageJ processing protocol and staining procedures to be useful tools to estimate melanin and melanocyte pathology.

Keywords: Fontana-Masson staining; S100; Schmorl’s staining; Warthin-Starry staining; hematoxylin-eosin; melanin; skin.