Stratum basale: melanocytes

A second cell type present in the stratum basale is the melanocyte, which often appear to have a clear, halo-like cytoplasm around a heterochromatic nucleus. Melanocytes synthesize melanin pigment which they package it into melanosomes that are transferred to keratinocytes, imparting an overall brownish color to the stratum basale. Melanin absorbs ultraviolet light thereby protecting the DNA in the stratum basal cells. Melanocytes have a different embryological origin from keratinocytes. Also visible in the epidermis are migrating macrophages called Langerhans cells. 400x

A second cell type present in the stratum basale is the melanocyte, which often appear to have a clear, halo-like cytoplasm around a heterochromatic nucleus. Melanocytes synthesize melanin pigment which they package it into melanosomes that are transferred to keratinocytes, imparting an overall brownish color to the stratum basale. Melanin absorbs ultraviolet light thereby protecting the DNA in the stratum basal cells. Melanocytes have a different embryological origin from keratinocytes. Also visible in the epidermis are migrating macrophages called Langerhans cells. 400x

A second cell type present in the stratum basale is the melanocyte, which often appear to have a clear, halo-like cytoplasm around a heterochromatic nucleus. Melanocytes synthesize melanin pigment which they package it into melanosomes that are transferred to keratinocytes, imparting an overall brownish color to the stratum basale. Melanin absorbs ultraviolet light thereby protecting the DNA in the stratum basal cells. Melanocytes have a different embryological origin from keratinocytes. Also visible in the epidermis are migrating macrophages called Langerhans cells. 400x

A second cell type present in the stratum basale is the melanocyte, which often appear to have a clear, halo-like cytoplasm around a heterochromatic nucleus. Melanocytes synthesize melanin pigment which they package it into melanosomes that are transferred to keratinocytes, imparting an overall brownish color to the stratum basale. Melanin absorbs ultraviolet light thereby protecting the DNA in the stratum basal cells. Melanocytes have a different embryological origin from keratinocytes. Also visible in the epidermis are migrating macrophages called Langerhans cells. 400x

A second cell type present in the stratum basale is the melanocyte, which often appear to have a clear, halo-like cytoplasm around a heterochromatic nucleus. Melanocytes synthesize melanin pigment which they package it into melanosomes that are transferred to keratinocytes, imparting an overall brownish color to the stratum basale. Melanin absorbs ultraviolet light thereby protecting the DNA in the stratum basal cells. Melanocytes have a different embryological origin from keratinocytes. Also visible in the epidermis are migrating macrophages called Langerhans cells. 400x

A second cell type present in the stratum basale is the melanocyte, which often appear to have a clear, halo-like cytoplasm around a heterochromatic nucleus. Melanocytes synthesize melanin pigment which they package it into melanosomes that are transferred to keratinocytes, imparting an overall brownish color to the stratum basale. Melanin absorbs ultraviolet light thereby protecting the DNA in the stratum basal cells. Melanocytes have a different embryological origin from keratinocytes. Also visible in the epidermis are migrating macrophages called Langerhans cells. 400x

This was taken of a slide in the University of California, San Francisco slide collection.