Figure 3.

mRNA expression level of melanin synthesis-related genes and melanin content in cell lysates and culture medium after treatment with 17β-estradiol. Relative hTYR (a), hPMEL17 (b), and hTYRP1 (c) gene expression in cultured human epidermal melanocytes after 24 h exposure to the indicated treatments. (b) Melanin content quantification by melanin content assay in a culture medium; (d) melanin content quantification by melanin content assay in cell lysates and culture medium after 7 days exposure to the indicated treatments. Data represent the results of three independent experiments. Data are shown as means ± SD. *** p < 0.01; n.s., no significant difference.