Distribution rule of melanocytes in Taihe Silky Fowl’s black skin

The aim was to investigate distribution characteristics of melanocytes in Taihe Silky Fowl’s skin by Lillie’s and DOPA staining methods and transmission electron microscopy. According to the present results, mature melanocytes were mainly located in basal layer of epidermis and hair follicle bulbs, whereas the amelanotic melanocytes were in the outer root sheath of hair follicles. In various partial skins, maturity levels of melanocytes generally were as: claw skin>rear skin>dorsal skin>abdominal skin>wattle skin>cockscomb skin. In mature melanocytes, melanosomes were divided into stage I, II, III and IV, and mostly belonged to stage IV. To conclude, melanocytes in hairy skin more easily reached mature status than in meaty skin and the melanocytes in dorsal skin matured faster than in abdominal skin as well. Furthermore, the melanin migration was subjected to the strict control of melanocytes, but had nothing to do with keratinocytes.