Pure melanocyte cultures: differential serum requirements of guinea pig keratinocytes and melanocytes in primary epidermal cell cultures.

Contrary to melanocytes guinea pig keratinocytes do not attach and grow in primary epidermal cell cultures if plated in media containing guinea pig serum. This phenomenon is based on the low content or lack of guinea pig serum of a factor(s) promoting keratinocyte attachment. This factor, which is contained in fetal calf serum, binds to the keratinocyte cell surface and can be removed by trypsin. Guinea pig epidermal cell cultures plated in medium containing guinea pig serum therefore lead to pure or almost pure melanocyte cultures.