Melanocytes

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Melanocytes and Melanin

Melanocytes

Melanocytes

Melanocytes are cells, whose main task is to synthesize Melanin.
The preliminary stage of the melanocytes is called melanoblast.
The process of synthesizing the melanin starts in the melanosomes using the key enzyme Tyronase. Melanosomes are produced and proliferated by the Golgi-Apparatus in the melanocytes, which produces them as vesicles pinching off its membrane, the melanosomes then migrate into epidermic cells.

Melanocytes are present

	in the skin,
	in the hair bulp,
	in the retina,
	in the Stria vascularis of the Organ of Corti,
	in connective tissues and similar tissues.

A functional disorder (=dysfunction) in the process or in involved agents (i.e. in tyronase, in structure proteins) leads to hyper-pigmentation or depigmentation.

Melanin

Melanin is a pigment which has very important functions:

For example: it is absolutely necessary in the Organ of Corti.
The damage in synthesizing melanin leads to congenital deafness.

Eumelanin is based on black.
Pheomelanin is based on Orange/Red.

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