Murine Skin as a Target for Melatonin Bioregulation

In the 1994 study, researchers found that melatonin has specific binding sites in the skin of C57 BL-6 mice, particularly in the epidermis and the hair follicle's epithelial bulb. The study demonstrated that in skin organ culture, melatonin at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10 nM could stimulate DNA synthesis in epidermal keratinocytes, while at concentrations of 1 microM or higher, it inhibited the activity of tyrosinase, an enzyme involved in melanin production. These findings led to the conclusion that murine (mouse) skin is indeed affected by melatonin, suggesting that this hormone plays a role in the regulation of skin functions.