Culture Of Human Hair Follicles In Vitro And Sequential Observations

Based on successful culture of isolated human hair follicles in vitro and observation of their growth or morphological changes, we try to explore the characteristics and factors in their growth and cycling in order to prepare for further research of allograft hair transplantation or hair follicle tissue engineering; In addition, we wish to find some key techniques to improve current hair transplantation.Methods:Dissociative human hair follicles were isolated sterilely from scrap scalps of face-lift patients, and cultured in DMEM with 10% calf serum up to 30 days. Their growth were observed continually, and besides, some paraffin sections were made with fresh isolated and cultured hair follicles for histological compare, while morphological and histological changes were photographed.Results:1. We succeeded in culturing 4 batches human hair follicles in vitro.2. The follicles cultured in DMEM with 10% CS developed slowly and showed premature entry into a catagen-like state.3. In catagen, the DPC distributed in two different types: most of them contracted to a gout located below the mid part of the HF, but in other approximate 30% HF, the DPC glued to grew outward, surround by some epithelial cell and the DSC growing radially.4. Our modified method of paraffin section also showed good resultsConclusion:1. The growth of human HF cultured in vitro varied with the different cultural media, those in DMEM supplemented with 10% calf serum tended to transform into catagen earlier.2. The DPC distributed in two different types during catagen.3. We simplified the method of HF paraffin section.