Isolation and culture of melanocytes from the arctic fox (Alopex lagopus)

• Published in: Italian Journal of Animal Science
• Main Authors: Jiarong Bao, Lei Wang, Guiwu Wang, Xueqing Liu, Fuhe Yang
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2015
• Subjects: Arctic fox; Melanocyte; PMA; Melanin synthesis; Animal culture; SF1-1100; Arctic; Alopex lagopus; Arctic Fox
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.4081/ijas.2015.4005; https://doaj.org/article/61a162f94bdc46bbb69d4216f33d64d9

Coat colour is a phenotypic marker of fur animal species, which was determined by the pigment generated from melanocytes. In this study, we developed and validated a method for isolation, purification and passage culture of melanocytes from the arctic fox ( Alopex lagopus ). Skin biopsies were harvested from the dorsal region of adult foxes and enzyme digestion by Dispase II. The primary culture of melanocytes from arctic fox skin was obtained by using keratinocyte serum-free medium supplemented with epidermal growth factor and bovine pituitary extract with/without phorbol- 12-myristate-13-acetate, and by carrying out a medium change strategy. After serial passages, it yielded pure population of melanocytes, which become efficient tools for investigating the function of colour genes and unraveling the process of melanin synthesis.