Cell proliferation during fibre growth initiation in ferret hair
follicles
D.P. Saywell, A.J. Nixon
AgResearch, Whatawhata Research Centre, Private Bag 3089,
Hamilton, New Zealand
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
1992, 52: 299-302
The commencement and course of cell proliferation is described
in proanagen hair follicles of ferrets. Initiation of autumn fur growth
was synchronised in 32 animals using melatonin implants. Skin samples
containing S-phase cells labelled in vivo with bromodeoxyuridine were
collected from groups of four animals up until the time of development
of metanagen follicles at 14 days post-implant. Cells were visualised
by an indirect immunocytochemical method and counts made of
proliferating cells in the hair germ, epithelial strand/outer root
sheath, connective tissue sheath and dermal papilla. Telogen follicles
showed no labelling in all four tissues until 4 days after melatonin
implant. The largest number of proliferating cells were in the hair
germ, which formed the new fibre and inner root sheath. The cell
labelling index for this tissue remained high at 14 days post-implant.
In other tissues, cell proliferation reached peaks during mid to late
proanagen, then declined as the metanagen state was reached. These
results indicate that some key signalling events controlling ferret hair
growth occur between 0 and 4 days after the melatonin implant, and
illustrate the separate processes of follicular regeneration and fibre
growth occurring in proanagen follicles.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Bromodeoxyuridine; cell proliferation; ferret; fibre growth;
hair follicle; melatonin; proanagen.
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Last Updated 25-01-1997
