Human hair growth ex vivo is correlated with in vivo hair growth: selective categorization of hair follicles for more reliable hair follicle organ culture.
Of the numerous assays used to assess hair growth, hair follicle organ culture model is one of the most popular and powerful in vitro systems. Changes in hair growth are commonly employed as a measurement of follicular activity. Hair cycle stage of mouse vibrissa follicles in vivo is known to determine subsequent hair growth and follicle behavior in vitro and it is recommended that follicles be taken at precisely the same cyclic stage. This study was performed to evaluate whether categorization of human hair follicles by the growth in vivo could be used to select follicles of the defined anagen stage for more consistent culture. Occipital scalp samples were obtained from three subjects, 2 weeks later after hair bleaching. Hair growth and follicle length of isolated anagen VI follicles were measured under a videomicroscope. Follicles were categorized into four groups according to hair growth and some were cultured ex vivo for 6 days. Follicles showed considerable variations with respect to hair growth and follicle length; however, these two variables were relatively well correlated. Hair growth in culture was closely related with hair growth rate in vivo. Moreover, minoxidil uniquely demonstrated a significant increase of hair growth in categorized hair follicles assumed at a similar early anagen VI stage of hair cycle. Selection of follicles at a defined stage based on hair-growth rate would permit a more reliable outcome in human hair follicle organ culture.
Kwon
Oh Sang
OS
Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Institute of Dermatological Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Oh
Jun Kyu
JK
Kim
Mi Hyang
MH
Park
So Hyun
SH
Pyo
Hyun Keol
HK
Kim
Kyu Han
KH
Cho
Kwang Hyun
KH
Eun
Hee Chul
HC
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000254:growth & development*; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D008875:Middle Aged; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors