title: Site-specific migration of human fetal melanocytes in volar skin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Melanocytes originate from the neural crest and migrate ventrally from the dorsal neural tube during embryogenesis. How human melanocytes locate at their suitable positions during embryogenesis, however, is unclear. Although a growing body of evidence indicates that melanocytes, melanoblasts, and melanocyte stem cells are closely related to hair follicles, little is known about volar skin.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to observe skin development during human fetal period and clarify the site-specific migration process of human fetal sole melanocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We obtained 4-mm punch biopsies from the scalp, back, abdomen, and right sole of 36 aborted fetuses (gestational age 12-21 weeks). We compared the migration process between hairly areas and volar areas by immunohistochemical staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunohistochemical examination revealed that gp100 (HMB-45) sensitively detects human melanocytes in embryogenesis. Melanocytes were present at the epidermal base, where hair placodes/buds form at 12-15 weeks gestation. Fetal melanocytes in hair follicles are supplied from the epidermis. In volar skin, melanocytes originally localize only in the acrosyringium, where they migrate deeper into with gland development at 16-18 weeks gestation. Palmoplantar melanocyte migration and maturation processes differ considerably from those of the other hairy skin sites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eccrine sweat glands seem to have a central role in the palmoplantar melanocyte migration process, similar to the role of hair follicles in hairy sites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric and Environmental Dermatology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan. Electronic address: qkswg204@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Motoki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Mizuho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukunaga-Kalabis
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric and Environmental Dermatology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric and Environmental Dermatology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furuhashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric and Environmental Dermatology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric and Environmental Dermatology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.affiliation: Gynecology Hospital Mizuno Clinic, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mizuno
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugiura
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric and Environmental Dermatology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Akimichi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morita
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall; D001415:Back; D002465:Cell Movement; D004439:Eccrine Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000196:embryology*; D005333:Fetus; D005528:Foot; D005865:Gestational Age; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000502:physiology; D012535:Scalp; D058951:gp100 Melanoma Antigen
chemical_list: D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; C548637:PMEL protein, human; D058951:gp100 Melanoma Antigen
keywords: Human melanocytes; Melanoblasts; Palmoplantar; Stem cells; Sweat gland; Volar skin