Hypomelanosis in chickens

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorKidson, Susan Hen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMarco, Heather Gaileen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2018-01-29T07:09:29Z
dc.date.available2018-01-29T07:09:29Z
dc.date.issued1994en_ZA
dc.description.abstractHypomelanosis, a severe reduction in pigmentation, is a widespread phenomenon which affects many different vertebrate species, including humans and chickens. The cause(s) of various forms of hypomelanosis is (are) not known. The aim of this study was to determine the cause of hypomelanosis in a breed of white chickens (White Plymouth Rock x Pile Game). It was hoped that this hypomelanotic breed may provide insight into the etiopathogenesis of certain human hypomelanotic disorders, such as vitiligo and albinism. To determine whether melanocytes are present in the hypomelanotic skin, two melanocyte-specific assays were carried out, in situ DOPA histochemistry and a sensitive radiometric assay for tyrosinase. The results show that active tyrosinase was present in 8, 9 and 10 day skins. However, unlike normal black skin, the level of tyrosinase did not increase with age, suggesting that the melanocytes either die or that they do not continue to synthesise tyrosinase. Ultrastructurally, these melanocytes appeared to be morphologically normal and they did not show signs of premature degeneration. Unlike black chick melanocytes, however, they contained very few premelanosomes and fully melanised melanosomes were never observed, suggesting that hypomelanosis results from the arrested development (melanisation) of melanosomes in vivo. Two different experiments were carried out to determine whether this blockage in melanogenesis is intrinsic in the melanocyte or whether it is caused by extrinsic environmental factors. The outcome of these studies were conflicting: 1) In culture, white chick neural crest cells produced pigment, suggesting that the melanocyte is not defective. However, ultrastructural examination of these cultured melanocytes showed that they contained a large proportion of partially melanised melanosomes. 2) Black chick neural crest cells migrated into white skin explants and contributed towards pigment in the developing feathers, suggesting that the white chick tissue environment is also not defective. The results hint that hypomelanosis in the white chicks is caused by the interaction of at least two genetic defects: an intrinsic mutation of the melanocyte, as well as an extrinsic mutation in the melanocyte environment that, in combination, exert an inhibitory influence on melanin synthesis. This study shows that, in situ, white chick melanocytes share some features with ty-pos albino melanocytes and may be representative of this pigmentary disorder. White Plymouth Rock x Pile Game chicks may also be useful as a model for the multi-faceted disorder, vitiligo.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationMarco, H. G. (1994). <i>Hypomelanosis in chickens</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Division of Cell Biology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/27045en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMarco, Heather Gaile. <i>"Hypomelanosis in chickens."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Division of Cell Biology, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/27045en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMarco, H. 1994. Hypomelanosis in chickens. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Marco, Heather Gaile AB - Hypomelanosis, a severe reduction in pigmentation, is a widespread phenomenon which affects many different vertebrate species, including humans and chickens. The cause(s) of various forms of hypomelanosis is (are) not known. The aim of this study was to determine the cause of hypomelanosis in a breed of white chickens (White Plymouth Rock x Pile Game). It was hoped that this hypomelanotic breed may provide insight into the etiopathogenesis of certain human hypomelanotic disorders, such as vitiligo and albinism. To determine whether melanocytes are present in the hypomelanotic skin, two melanocyte-specific assays were carried out, in situ DOPA histochemistry and a sensitive radiometric assay for tyrosinase. The results show that active tyrosinase was present in 8, 9 and 10 day skins. However, unlike normal black skin, the level of tyrosinase did not increase with age, suggesting that the melanocytes either die or that they do not continue to synthesise tyrosinase. Ultrastructurally, these melanocytes appeared to be morphologically normal and they did not show signs of premature degeneration. Unlike black chick melanocytes, however, they contained very few premelanosomes and fully melanised melanosomes were never observed, suggesting that hypomelanosis results from the arrested development (melanisation) of melanosomes in vivo. Two different experiments were carried out to determine whether this blockage in melanogenesis is intrinsic in the melanocyte or whether it is caused by extrinsic environmental factors. The outcome of these studies were conflicting: 1) In culture, white chick neural crest cells produced pigment, suggesting that the melanocyte is not defective. However, ultrastructural examination of these cultured melanocytes showed that they contained a large proportion of partially melanised melanosomes. 2) Black chick neural crest cells migrated into white skin explants and contributed towards pigment in the developing feathers, suggesting that the white chick tissue environment is also not defective. The results hint that hypomelanosis in the white chicks is caused by the interaction of at least two genetic defects: an intrinsic mutation of the melanocyte, as well as an extrinsic mutation in the melanocyte environment that, in combination, exert an inhibitory influence on melanin synthesis. This study shows that, in situ, white chick melanocytes share some features with ty-pos albino melanocytes and may be representative of this pigmentary disorder. White Plymouth Rock x Pile Game chicks may also be useful as a model for the multi-faceted disorder, vitiligo. DA - 1994 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1994 T1 - Hypomelanosis in chickens TI - Hypomelanosis in chickens UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/27045 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/27045
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMarco HG. Hypomelanosis in chickens. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Division of Cell Biology, 1994 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/27045en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDivision of Cell Biologyen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherCell Biologyen_ZA
dc.subject.otherChickensen_ZA
dc.subject.otherHypopigmentationen_ZA
dc.subject.otherMelanocytesen_ZA
dc.titleHypomelanosis in chickensen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMSc (Med)en_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
thesis_hsf_1994_marco_heather_gaile (1).pdf
Size:
10.95 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Masters