Fig. 1

C-Kit-CreER targets McSCs, while Tyr-CreER also targets dermal melanocytic cells. a Schematic shows tamoxifen (TAM) treatment and analysis regimen for b–e. b Immunofluorescence for GFP (green) and Dct, c-Kit, Sox10, S100b, Nestin (red) in c-Kit-CreER; R26R-GFP skin (Top panel) and Tomato (red) and Dct, c-Kit, Sox10, S100b, Nestin (green) in Tyr-CreER; R26R-Tomato skin (Bottom panel). c–e Dot plot shows percentage of reporter⁺ cells in Dct⁺ cells inside the HF c, Sox10⁺ cells in reporter⁺ cells in the dermal compartment d and Nestin⁺ cells in reporter⁺ cells in the dermal compartment e (mean ± s.d.; 3 mice were analyzed in each group, n = number of hair follicles c or dermal areas d, e analyzed). f Schematic shows TAM and doxycycline(Dox) treatment and analysis regimen for g, h. g Immunofluorescence for GFP (green) and Tomato (red) in c-Kit-CreER; R26R-Tomato; Dct-rtTA; tetO-H2B-GFP skin (Top) and Tyr-CreER; R26R-Tomato; Dct-rtTA; tetO-H2B-GFP skin (Bottom); Schematic model showing the distribution of c-Kit and Tyr promoter active cells in right panels. h Dot plot shows percentage of GFP⁺ cells in Tomato⁺ cells in the HF and dermal compartment of g (mean ± s. d.; 3 mice were analyzed in each group, n = number of skin areas analyzed). Dashed line outlines the boundary of epithelium and dermis. Scale bar, 25 μm. Arrowheads point to follicular McSCs; Arrows point to GFP⁺ or Tomato⁺ cells in the dermis. HF hair follicle, McSCs melanocyte stem cells, Derm dermal compartment, TAM tamoxifen. Source data are provided as a Source Data file