• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.12-21
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• 1990

When a piece of the dorsal skin(cat fish) was observed under a light microscope, melanophores were horizontally expanded and had a few processes filled with melanosomes. They were isolated from one another. Some melanophores looked black, while others were d&k brown. On observation with a transmission electron microscope, the epidermal melanophore of cat fish was highly branched and small segments of processes were found frequendy m the vidnity of the interecellular spaces. The cross section of the processes of melanophore was almost circular, and often invested by a thin layer of epidermal cells. Some processes, however, occurred free m the wide interecellular spaces or at the cytoplasm of the superilcial layers. In the mature melanophore, the cell organelles including melanosomes, mitochondria and free ribosomes were prominent in the perinuclear portions. Many melanosomes were spherical or elipsoidal in shape. Each melanosomes was surrounded by a limiting membrane. The processes of the mature melanophore were well developed, but the processes of the immature melanophores were incompletely developed.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.134-142
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• 1989

In exopolysaccharide fermentation by Aureobasidium pulluans, the effects culture conditions (concentration of nitrogen, potassium phosphate, dissolved oxygen, and initial pH) on the production of exopolysaccharide and the appearance of melanin pigment were investigated. The results are as follows. (1) The specific growth rate and the specific production rate of exopolysaccharide were inhibited by substrate when the carbon source concentration higher than $50g\;/\;{\ell}$ and the cell growth increased with increases of nitrogen source but exopolysaccharide production decreased with the nitrogen concentration when it become greater than $1\;g\;/\;{\ell}$. (2) The maximum cell growth and the maximum exopolysaccharide production were obtained at initial pH values of 3.0 and 7.5 respectively. As the initial pH increased, the yeast-like cells increased and the increased of dissolved oxygen increased the cell growth and exopolysaccharide production. (3) As the concentration of dissolved oxygen is increased or the concentration of nitrogen source is decreased, the period of melanin pigment appearance becomes shorter and the melanin pigment never appeared when the initial pH was less than 3.0 or the potassium phosphate was not added.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.137-150
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• 1985

The dorsal skin of Rana temporaria dybowskii Guenther was examined under electron microscope. The results of the fine structures in the xanthophores, iridophores and melanophores were as follows: Xanthophores: Xanthophores were filled with pterinosomes and carotenoid vesicles. Type I pterinosomes had a clear limiting membrane. Type II pterinosomes had the inner fibrous structures. Tyep III pterinosomes were characterized by a few superficial lamellae and type IV pterinosomes by multiple concentric lamellae. Especially typical type II and type III pterinosomes were evenly distributed in the cytoplasm. Iridophores: Iridophores were situated between a xanthophore and a melanophore in the outer part of the dermis just below the basement membrane. Iridophores were filled with reflective platelets, each of which is rectangular and convex lens-like in shape. These platelets were closely contiguous and leave no interspace between them. Endoplasmic reticulum and a few mitochondria were observed in the supranuclear cytoplasm. Melanophores: Dermal melanophores contained numerous melanosomes. The dendritic precesses of the melanophore containing the melanin granules extented up the lateral sides of the iridophore. Epidermal melanophores were filled with melanin granules which appered as the same electron density. A few melanin granules were observed in a cornified surface cell.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.125-133
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• 2012

본 논문은 피부미백에 관한 실험적 연구로서, 봉선화(Impatiens balsamina Linne)의 성분 중에서 하이드록시-나프타-퀴논(hydroxynaphthoquinone)이 멜라닌 생성억제 효능, 색소침착 저해 효과 등의 미백 활성이 있는 것으로 밝혀졌다. 피부흑화(melanogenesis)는 멜라닌 색소생성세포(melanocyte)에서 자외선 등의 자극에 대한 방어기작으로 멜라닌 생성 활동이 증가되고 이로 말미암아 만들어진 다량의 멜라닌이 각질형성세포(keratinocyte)로 전이되어 피부 표피층에 축척된 결과이다. 비록 멜라닌이 피부에 보호작용을 하나 피부의 과색소 침착은 기미, 주근깨, 피부염증 후의 피부흑화, 노인성 색소반점 등을 일으키며 이로 인해 피부미용 상의 불편뿐만 아니라 정신적으로 부정적인 영향을 미쳐 사회활동에 불편을 초래하기도 한다. 멜라닌 생성 과정은 아미노산의 일종인 티로신(tyrosine)에 티로시나제(tyrosinase)라는 효소가 작용하여 도파(DOPA), 도파퀴논(dopaquinone)으로 바뀐 후 비효소적인 산화 반응을 거쳐 만들어 지며, 이것이 피부 내에 이상 침착하여 기미, 검버섯 등이 생기는 것이라고 알려져 있다. 이와 같은 색소침착, 기미, 반점 등의 완화, 예방 및 치료에는 멜라닌 생성을 억제하는 물질, 예를 들면 하이드로퀴논(hydroquinone), 알부틴, 비타민 C 및 그 유도체 등이 개발되어 사용되고 있으나 이 중, 하이드로퀴논은 일단 효과가 인정되고 있지만 감작성이 있기 때문에 일반적으로 사용이 제한되고 있다. 아스콜빈산은 쉽게 산화되어, 이를 배합한 제품에는 변색, 변취가 되는 문제를 야기하고, 식물추출물 유래의 물질들은 식물의 산지에 따라 효능의 차이가 심하여 제품의 균질성이 유지되기 어렵다. 이러한 이유로 많은 멜라닌 생성을 억제하는 물질을 개발하기 위한 연구들이 계속 진행하고 있다. 2-히드록시-[1,4]나프토퀴논 유도체는 다음과 같은 구조를 나타낸다. 상기 구조에서 R은 포화 혹은 불포화된 직쇄 또는 분지쇄의 알킬로서, 바람직하게는 C1 내지 C10의 포화 혹은 불포화된 직쇄 또는 분지쇄의 알킬이고, 보다 바람직하게는 C1 내지 C5의 포화 혹은 불포화된 직쇄 또는 분지쇄의 알킬이다. 실험에 활용된 화합물은 다음과 같은 반응식으로 얻어졌다. 2-히드록시-[1,4]나프토퀴논과 포타슘카보네이트(K2CO3)를 아세토니트릴에 용해한 후, 저온수조로 냉각하고 알킬할라이드를 적당한 당량비로 천천히 적하하여 히드록시기와 에테르(ether) 반응을 통하여 얻어질 수 있다. 상기 반응식에서 R은 C1~10의 포화 또는 불포화된 알킬기로서 직쇄형 또는 분지쇄형 모두 가능하다. 상기 화합물인 2-히드록시-[1,4]나프토퀴논(2-hydroxynaphthoquinone)은 배양된 쥐의 멜라노마 세포에 대하여 하이드로퀴논과 대등한 멜라닌 생성 억제효과를 보였다. 하이드로퀴논은 저농도에서 강력한 멜라닌 생성 억제효과를 보이지만 상기 화합물들은 보다 낮은 농도에서도 세포독성을 나타내지 않으며 하이드로퀴논보다 높은 멜라닌 생성 억제 효과를 보였다.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.149-157
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• 2010

목적 : 월견초는 다량의 불포화 지방산인 리놀렌산과 감마 리놀렌산을 함유하고 있으며, 천식성 기침이나 아토피피부염에 효능이 있는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구는 월견초의 전초와 종자 추출물의 피부 멜라닌 합성에 대한 억제 효과를 조사하였다. 방법 : B16F10 멜라닌세포주를 이용하여 멜라닌, tyrosinase 활성 및 세포생존율을 측정하였다. 또한 멜라닌 합성- 관련효소인 tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2의 단백질발현과 $\alpha$-MSH를 처리하여 색소침착을 유도 한 뒤 단백질 발현을 조사하였다. 결과 : 월견자는 B16F10 세포의 멜라닌 합성을 $5\;{\mu}g/ml$와 $10\;{\mu}g/ml$ 농도에서 각각 대조군의 81.3%, 68.3%로 억제하였고 tyrosinase의 활성도 이와 유사하게 억제하였다. 멜라닌 합성-관련효소들의 단백질발현을 관찰한 결과 월견초와 월견자는 tyrosinase 발현을 억제하였으며 TRP-1과 TRP-2의 발현에는 영향을 주지 않았다. 특히 $\alpha$-MSH에 의한 과색소 유도 시 tyrosinase 발현이 현저하게 감소되었으며, 월견자의 멜라닌 합성 억제 효과가 월견초 보다 높게 나타났다. 결론 : 이상의 연구 결과 월견자는 멜라닌세포의 tyrosinase 단백질 발현과 tyrosinase 활성을 억제하여 멜라닌 생성을 감소시키는 것으로 사료된다.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.208-213
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• 2009

Histological examination of an individual of the Korean slender gudgeon Squalidus gracilis majimae having cutaneous albinism produced rarely in the wild was made and compared with a normal individual. The external body of the albino was colorless, differing from the normal individual, which has dense brownish black spots over its body surface. To make it clear through histological study, we observed eight skin regions: dorsal, lateral, ventral, upper caudal peduncle, lower caudal peduncle, dorsal fin, anal fin, and the eyes. These regional skins were the same in fundamental structure between albinic and normal gudgeon, but there were significant differences in distribution and development of pigment cells (melanins). In the normal gudgeon, the pigment cells were well developed over the regional skins except on the skin from the ventral region. However, it was confirmed in the albino that the pigment cells were vestigial over the upper regions of the eye and body but absent in the ventral region, lower caudal peduncle, and anal fin.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.355-361
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• 2022

Melanin pigments are the main cause of skin color. They are produced in melanocytes and then transferred to keratinocytes, which eventually gives the skin surface a variety of colors. Although many skin-lightening or depigmenting agents have been developed, the demand for materials to reduce pig- mentation is still increasing. Here, we tried to find materials for skin-lightening or depigmentation using natural compounds and found that mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum) extracts (ME) had an inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity. As a result, ME significantly reduced pigmentation in human primary melanocytes. In addition, a promoter reporter assay revealed that ME inhibited the transcription of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), melanophilin (MLPH), tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), and tyrosinase (TYR) genes in HM3KO melanoma cells. In addition, ME decreased the protein level for pigmentation-related molecules, such as TYR and TRP-1. Furthermore, it markedly inhibited the melanogenesis of zebrafish embryos, an in vivo evaluation model for pigmentation. To elucidate the action mechanism of ME, we investigated its effects on intracellular signaling. Eventually, the ME dramatically decreased the phosphorylation of the cAMP responsive element binding protein (CREB), AKT, and ERK. The data suggest that ME may inhibit the melanogenesis pathway by regulating the signaling pathway related to pigmentation. Taken together, these data propose that ME can be developed as a depigmenting or skin-lightening agent.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.231-240
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• 1984

The authors observed pigment cells in the dorsal skin of Korean frog (Rana nigromaculata coreana Okada) under an electron microscope. The traits of pigment cells were as follows. The three kinds of dermal chromatophores were horizontally expanded; adjacent closely contiguous and partially overlapped with one another and there were the intercellular space between a xanthophore and an iridophore, or an iridophore and a melanophore. 1. Xanthophores: Xanthophores were filled with pterinosomes and carotenoid vesicles, the formers of which were evenly distributed in each cell. Pterinosomes were five kinds of types (type I, type II, type III, type IV and type V pterinosomes). Especially typical type II and type III pterinosomes were well observed in the cytoplasm. 2. Iridophores: Xanthophores were closely contiguous to the xanthophore situated above and they were filled with reflective platelets. Mostly these platelets are arranged regularly, that is, in parallel with the surface of skin, but partly, nonparallel. 3. Melanophores: Melanophores were filled with melanin granules, each of which revealed the same electron density. The pocesses of melanophore entended to bilateral sides of iridophores and melanin granules were dispersed especially in the processes.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.7-39
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• 2002

The extensive variation in human cutaneous pigmentation is mainly due to differences in the rate of melanin synthesis by epidermal melanocytes, the relative amounts of eumelanin and pheomelanin synthesized, and the manner and rate of transfer of melanosomes from melanocytes to keratinocytes. Pigmentation is a complex trait that is regulated genetically and environmentally. One gene that has been receiving a lot of attention is the gene for the melanocortin 1 receptor The extensive polymorphism of this gene in human populations suggests its significance in the diversity of pigmentation. Exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UV) results in increased synthesis of a variety of growth factors, cytokines and hormones, and in modulation of their receptors in the epidermis. Knowledge about the regulation of pigmentation has led to strategies for clinical treatment of hyperpigmented skin lesions. Three main strategies are: 1) the use of chemicals that interfere with the melanin synthetic pathway, 2) the design of peptides or peptide-mimetics based on the structure of hormones that regulate eumelanin synthesis, and 3) the use of agents that reduce melanosome transfer from melanocytes to keratinocytes. All three strategies are expected to induce hypopigmentation, by inhibiting total melanin synthesis, eumelanin production, or the epidermal melanin unit, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.96-104
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• 2010

During an artificial breeding as a part of restoration of the endangered Korean bitterling Acheilognathus signifer, a small number of individuals exhibiting oculocutaneous albinism were produced. We compared the pigmentation and morphology of normal and albinic bitterlings by histological examination of skin samples obtained from 10 regions on the body, fins, and eyes. There were no differences in morphometry and in general morphology of skin between them. In normal bitterlings, pigment cells were better developed in the dorsal region, the upper part of caudal peduncle region, the choroid-retinal epithelium and iris than in other areas. In the albinic bitterling, however, pigment cells were present only in three parts of the dorsal region, the caudal and dorsal fin, which had few melanin cells. Albinic bitterlings also displayed deficient pigmentation in the choroid-retina pigment epithelium and iris. Although they had different pigmentation aspects in distribution and development between normal and albinic bitterlings, melanin cells were mainly present in the dorsal regions of the skin and eyes where are exposed directly to light.