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Many melanocyte or skin equivalent models have been used to evaluate the potential efficacy of melanogenic compounds to regulate pigmentation, but there has been great variation in results, partially stemming from the use of different cell lines and diverse conditions for the melanogenic assays. In an earlier report, we optimized a microtiter format assay system to screen potential bioactive compounds using immortalized melan-a melanocytes. That assay system, termed the STOPR protocol, allowed effects on melanocyte proliferation and differentiation to be assessed in a highly sensitive, reproducible, and cost-effective manner. However, in the skin and hair, melanocytes interact with keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and other cell types, and testing of putative bioactive compounds on melanocytes alone in culture does not allow one to observe the interactions with those other cell types, such as would occur in vivo …