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Electron microscopy of human melanosomes in unstained, fresh air-dried hair bulbs and their examination by electron probe microanalysis

Cell and Tissue Research volume 178, pages 169–173 (1977)Cite this article

Summary

Electron microscopy of unstained, fresh air-dried spreads of plucked human hair bulbs revealed relatively well preserved melanocytes and dense storage granules of melanin. Energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis of melanosomes and premelanosomes from black facial hair bulbs disclosed high peaks for potassium and sulfur, intermediate peaks for magnesium and calcium, and low but distinct ones for phosphorus and chlorine. No peaks for magnesium were found in the central portion of mature melanosomes, but at their edges and in premelanosomes conspicuous peaks for this element were obtained.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Kasumi, Hiroshima, Japan

    Kenichi Takaya

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  1. Kenichi Takaya
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Additional information

Supported by a grant from the Ministry of Education of Japan

The author thanks Dr. H. Fujita for his advice and Messrs K. Yonehara, S. Okamura, T. Fukuoka, and T. Asai, Naka Works, Hitachi Ltd., Katsuta, Ibaraki, for use of their X-ray microanalyzer and for their assistance in electron probe analysis

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Takaya, K. Electron microscopy of human melanosomes in unstained, fresh air-dried hair bulbs and their examination by electron probe microanalysis. Cell Tissue Res. 178, 169–173 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219044

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219044

Key words

  • Melanocytes
  • Hair bulbs
  • Unstained, fresh air-dried preparations
  • Melanosomes
  • Premelanosomes