Background : It is well known that α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) induces melanization, but structural changes of melanocytes after α-MSH exposure is not well known.
Objective : The aim of this study was to investigate the serial morphologic change of human cultured melanocyte after stimulation with α-MSH using atomic force microscopy (AFM).
Methods : Cultured human melanocytes were used for study and the cells were treated with α-MSH for 7 days. Contact mode AFM images were obtained using a NANOstation II and fixed melanocytes were scanned in PBS solution at a resolution of 512 × 512 pixels, at a scan speed of 0.4 line/s. The surface roughness and pore-like structures of the melanocytes were measured from the topographic images using the Scanning Probe Imaging Processor.
Results : Surface roughness of cell body did not show significant change over time. All 3 roughness parameters (Sa, Sq, Sz) inside the pore-like structures on the dendrites were significantly increased. The number of pore-like structures increased and the length and the breadth of pore-like structures were also increased gradually. The change of pore-like structures was statistically significant.
Conclusions : Pore-like structures were main structure which showed statistically significant change in response to α-MSH stimulation. Further study will be needed whether the nature of pore-like structures is related to movement of melanosome or not.