Abstract: Using 2N NaBr skin splitted-dopa stain,we studied the epidermal melanocytes of 53 specimens from five major regions of normal Chinese.Our result confined that there were wide individual and regional variations; but the ntunber of melanocytes,which ranged from 783/mm² on the chest-abdomen to 1780/mm² on the neck,was not related to age.The melanocytes on the neck,upper extremity,and back showed stronger dopa reaction and had more thin dendrties; while the melanocytes on the low extremity and chest-abdomen had larger cell body,weaker dopa,reaction,and fewer thick branches wish secondary dendrites.The regional difference of melanocye population were probably due to unequal division and proliferation of mclanocytes which may be affeted by UV radiation after birth.The functional and cytelogic changes of mclanocyte may be influenced by UV,keratinocyte kinetics,and the number of keratinocytes in an epidermal melanin unit.