What are melanocytes?

Melanocytes are cells that produce melanin, a dark pigment responsible for coloring hair and skin. Melanin serves a number of functions in the body and these cells are found in all people. Hair and skin coloring is not determined by how many melanocytes have someone, but how active these cells are. For example, under conditions such as albinism, these cells are present, but their activity is inhibited and does not produce pigment. They are usually buried under the surface. The cells produce melanin in response to environmental stimuli, including exposure to ultraviolet radiation and certain chemicals. Melanin travels from melanocytes and to the surface of the tissue where cells are located. Over time, this decays and must be replaced by fresh supplies of melanin produced by a layer of background melanocytes. Some suppress the activity from these cells, causing pale or white spots on the body where no melanin is formed. Others do the opposite, stimulate melanin overproduction and cause the skin to darken. Some medicines haveThe same effect and explain why people develop dark skin on some regulations.

In the skin, melanin has a protective quality. This pigment absorbs ultraviolet radiation and prevents it from traveling to the surrounding tissues of the body. As a result, people from regions where sun exposition are frequent and intense often have more active melanocytes. The cells work to ensure that their bodies have a healthy layer of melanin, so it is less likely to burn and suffer UV damage to the sun.

Melanin also plays some other roles in the body, including the brain, where it seems to be a source of basic ingredients for some neurotransmitters. The brain must synthesize chemicals because of them and in people with limited melanin production in the brain, a decrease in some neurotransmitters has been observed. People with degenerative brain diseases can also experience melanocyte destruction and subsequent decrease in melanin function, leading toe to reduce the function of the brain. The area of ​​the brain known as Nigra nouns is named for the high levels of melanin it contains.