Melanocyte activity in the epidermis of the Boa constrictor (Constrictor constrictor) during the sloughing cycle

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Abstract
Epidermal melanocytes are easily identifiable in the skin of the Boa Constrictor throughout the whole skin cycle. Intensity of the dopa reaction, however, varies. It is at its peak just before the skin enters its resting phase when the melanization of the beta layer of the epidermis is complete. There is no pigment transfer when those layers of the epidermis are formed which contain alpha keratin. The melanocytes accumulate melanosomes, retain them throughout the resting phase of the epidermis, and donate them again during the subsequent growing period of the epidermal keratinizing system when beta keratin is again formed. Thus, when a new beta layer is formed, most of the melanosomes which are donated to this layer have been formed during a previous cycle. The dermal melanophores do not show morphological or histochemical changes during the shedding cycle of the epidermis.