Melanocytes in Human Embryonic and Fetal Skin: A Review and New Findings

This review discussed the development and distribution of melanocytes in human embryonic and fetal skin. Melanocytes, originating from the neural crest, appeared in the dermis at 10–11 weeks and in the epidermis at 11–12 weeks of menstrual age. Early studies used histochemical methods and electron microscopy to identify differentiated melanocytes. More recent advancements included monoclonal antibodies like HMB-45, which detected melanocytes regardless of pigmentation, revealing their presence in the epidermis as early as 40–50 days gestational age. Despite these findings, questions about melanocyte migration, reservoirs, division, and interactions with keratinocytes during development remained unresolved.