Chronic stress causing reduction of melanogenesis in mice dorsal skin.

A: Photographs of mice back skin on day 2 and day 13 after epilation showing the reduction of melanin in the skin of CRS and CUMS group mice on day 13. B: The mRNA expression levels of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) in mouse skin. C: The mRNA expression levels of tyrosinase (TYR) in mouse skin. The expression levels of each gene were normalized against β-Actin then calculated as fold change using the comparative 2-ΔΔCT method. Data are showed in mean ± SEM, n = 8, and the data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test. * P<0.05, ** P<0.01, *** P<0.001, compared with control.