Observation of Cultured Amelanotic Melanocytes from Hair Follicles by Atomic Force Microscopy

The study observed the surface structure of amelanotic melanocytes (AMMCs) from human hair follicles using atomic force microscopy. The researchers cultured cells from human scalp hair follicles and examined them under normal conditions. They found that most AMMCs appeared fusiform with two dendrites, and occasionally three, with round, oval, or triangular perikarya. The dendrites lacked clear secondary branches but had lateral projections, and filopodias were present on primary dendrites. The study concluded that AMMCs from hair follicles were morphologically immature and might not participate in transferring melanosomes to keratinocytes, although they had filopodias, which could facilitate melanosome movement.