Application of potent skin carcinogens, such as 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, 3-methylcholanthrene, benzo[a]pyrene and 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide, induced numerous dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa)-positive cells in the interfollicular epidermis of C57BL/6 mice in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Chrysene, a weak skin carcinogen, and croton oil, a tumor promoter, also induced 3--4 times more dopa-positive cells than acetone. Liver carcinogens, such as 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene and N-2-acetylaminofluorene, and non-carcinogenic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as anthracene, fluoranthene, fluorene and pyrene, did not induce increase in these cells. These results indicate that increase in the number of dopa-positive cells after application of chemicals is well correlated with the abilities of these compounds to induce skin carcinogenesis and suppress sebaceous glands.

The two mouse melanoma cell lines B16‐F1 and B16‐G4F retain their melanogenic capacity when cultured in vitro. Melanotropic peptides such as α‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (α‐MSH) induce formation and release of melanin pigment in B16‐F1 cells. In contrast, B16‐G4F cells do not respond to α‐MSH. Using receptor‐binding analysis and photoaffinity crosslinking we demonstrate that the lack of response of B16‐G4F cells to α‐MSH is due to the absence of functional MSH receptors from the cell surface. Northern blot analysis of receptor mRNA revealed that MSH receptor mRNA is not expressed in B16‐G4F cells. These cells represent a new tool for the study of signal pathways related to the control of melanogenesis in melanoma cells.

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Mouse skin melanomas were induced in two stage skin carcinogenesis with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene as initiator and croton oil as promoter. After approximately 25 weeks of promotion, small black macules of the skin were observed in C57BL, CDF1 and BDF1 mice, and progressively grew with time. Macules less than 2 mm in diameter were localized mostly in the lower portion of the dermis and, histologically, these lesions were consistent with the diagnosis of melanocytoma and were composed of polygonal to round cells loaded with large numbers of melanin granules. The cells were closely packed forming well-demarcated cell-nests with occasional columnar arrangement. In the macules over 2 mm in diameter, the cells were closely packed to form irregularly bordered cell-nests, showing invasive growth into the surrounding tissues. The lesions were diagnosed as malignant melanomas. The incidence of benign and/or malignant melanoma differed among strains: 80% in BDF1, 70% in CDF1, 30% in C57BL/6 and 0% in DBA/2 mice. One example of tumor induced in a CDF1 mouse was transplantable to homologous CDF1 mice.

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