Production of POMC, CRH-R1, MC1, and MC2 receptor mRNA and expression of tyrosinase gene in relation to hair cycle and dexamethasone treatment in the C57BL/6 mouse skin.

In skin of the C57BL/6 mouse, the production of mRNA transcripts that hybridized to the coding region of the MC1 receptor (MC1-R) gene was undetectable in telogen, increased during hair growth, and, after reaching the highest values in anagen VI, decreased during the anagen-catagen transition phase. This production was associated with anagen-dependent expression of the tyrosinase gene and enzyme activity. In contrast, the production of 4.5- and 2.0-kb mRNAs hybridizable to the coding region of the MC2 receptor (MC2-R) gene was similar throughout the entire hair cycle. Previously, dexamethasone was demonstrated to induce premature catagen development accompanied by an abrupt termination of melanogenesis. Here we demonstrate that topical application of dexamethasone during anagen VI decreased the concentration of POMC, MC1-R, and tyrosinase mRNA in the skin. The decrease in tyrosinase mRNA concentration was accompanied by a decrease in tyrosinase protein concentration and enzyme activity. These results support the hypothesis that murine hair growth and attendant melanogenesis can be regulated through coordinated changes in local expression of POMC, MC1-R, and tyrosinase genes.