Enhanced melanogenesis of murine melanoma cells cultured on or in collagen gel.

To elucidate the interaction between melanoma and its matrix, we cultured B16 murine melanoma cells on and in type I collagen gel and evaluated specified functions of melanoma cells; tyrosinase activity and melanin-synthesizing capacity. Proliferation of cells cultured in these environments was markedly suppressed compared with that of cells cultured conventionally on plastic. On the other hand, the tyrosinase activity of cells cultured in or on collagen gel was two to three times higher than that of cells cultured on the plastics, while their melanin production was approximately double that achieved during conventional culture of cells. In conclusion, collagen gel influenced the growth and cell-specific functions of the melanoma cell. The culture system using collagen gel as substrate may be useful for the investigation of the interaction between melanoma and its matrix.