Genes & Genetic Systems
Online ISSN : 1880-5779
Print ISSN : 1341-7568
ISSN-L : 1341-7568
Full papers
Melanocytes contribute to the vasculature of the choroid
Hirotoshi ShibuyaRyutaro WatanabeAkiteru MaenoKaoru IchimuraMasaru TamuraShigeharu WakanaToshihiko ShiroishiKoji OhbaKazuhisa TakedaHiroshi TomitaShigeki ShibaharaHiroaki Yamamoto
Author information
JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS FULL-TEXT HTML

2018 Volume 93 Issue 2 Pages 51-58

Details
Abstract

Melanocytes develop from the vertebrate embryo-specific neural crest, migrate, and localize in various organs, including not only the skin but also several extracutaneous locations such as the heart, inner ear and choroid. Little is known about the functions of extracutaneous melanocytes except for cochlear melanocytes, which are essential for hearing ability. In this study, we focused on the structure of the choroid, in which melanocytes are abundant around the well-developed blood vascular system. By comparing structural differences in the choroid of wild-type and melanocyte-deficient Mitfmi-bw/Mitfmi-bw mutant mice, our observations suggest that choroidal melanocytes contribute to the morphogenesis and/or maintenance of the normal vasculature structure of that tissue.

Content from these authors
© 2018 by The Genetics Society of Japan
Previous article Next article
feedback
Top