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Pheomelanin in the skin of Hymenochirus boettgeri (Amphibia: Anura: Pipidae)
Author(s) -
WolnickaGlubisz Agnieszka,
Pecio Anna,
Podkowa Dagmara,
Kolodziejczyk Lukasz M.,
Plonka Przemyslaw M.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2012.01511.x
Subject(s) - epidermis (zoology) , dorsum , dermis , melanin , electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy , biology , histology , human skin , anatomy , electron paramagnetic resonance , nuclear magnetic resonance , biochemistry , genetics , physics
Pheomelanin is supposed to be the first type of melanin found in vertebrates, in contrast to the main type – eumelanin. Our study aimed at detecting pheomelanin in the skin of Hymenochirus boettgerii . We employed electron paramagnetic resonance ( EPR ) spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy ( TEM ), supplemented with standard histology and immunochemistry. We identified pheomelanin in the dorsal skin of adult frogs (not only in the dermis, but also in the epidermis) and in the dorsal tadpole. Our work identifies Hymenochirus boettgerii as a model in the basic study on the mechanism, evolution and role of melanogenesis in animals, including human.