Splenic Melanosis During Normal Murine C57BL/6 Hair Cycle and After Chemotherapy

The study investigated the effects of chemotherapy on splenic melanosis using the C57BL/6 murine model. Researchers expected an increase in splenic melanin deposition after chemotherapy but found that cyclophosphamide treatment led to a decrease in splenic melanin. This decrease was abrupt and lasted for at least 5 days post-treatment. A similar reduction in splenic melanization was observed during the normal hair cycle before entering the catagen phase, followed by a gradual increase. The study concluded that cyclophosphamide negatively impacted splenic melanization and the extradermal transfer of ectopic melanin, with the catagen phase being the most significant down-regulator of splenic melanosis.