Melanin cells

Please,
where can I find a description of tissue structure o the hair folicle? How melanin cells are related to it. Is there any research about tissue culture of melanin cells?
Thanks.

Melanocytes are melanin-producing cells which occur in the area between the dermis and epidermis. They can also be found lining the dermal papilla (called the root or growth matrix) of the hair. Looking closely at a dermal papilla, it’s possible to see the growth matrix where new cells form. The new cells push the older ones toward the surface of the skin, and they form the cortex of each hair. Also present in this area are melanocytes, cells which create melanin and give your hair color. There are two types of melanin: eumelanin, which makes hair brown or black, and pheomelanin, which make hair blonde or red.

PubMed has lots of published data on melanocytes. Just type in melanocyte and melanocytes in the search bar.

[ October 11, 2002, 07:48 PM: Message edited by: Andrea ]