| abstract |
Analytical methods are disclosed for rapidly and reproducibly forming hair follicles from dissociated epithelial and mesenchymal cells. This method is used as a tool to measure cell differentiation (ie, hair growth inducibility) and to study the mechanism by which dissociated cells are used to form organs. In the method of the present invention, dissociated cells isolated from neonatal mouse skin are injected into the torso skin of adult mice and hair follicles develop. This process involves the aggregation of epithelial cells, forming clusters, which are eroded by apoptosis to form "infundibular cysts." A hair germ is formed from this "nippled sac", followed by follicular buds and pegs, which grow asymmetrically and differentiate into a circulating mature hair sebaceous gland structure. . Various techniques have been used to perforate, pierce or scratch the skin to expose the "nippled sac" and, in one attempt, wrap the exposed sac with a wound dressing material, resulting in ventilated hair follicles.n n n n n Organogenesis, dermal cells, epidermal cells, hair follicles, dissociated cells |