title: A simple and rapid model for hair-follicle regeneration in the nude mouse.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Methods for hair-follicle regeneration are important tools for investigating signalling and cytokines during hair-follicle morphogenesis and cycling. Several animal models for hair reconstitution have been established; however, these models have several shortcomings.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop a simple and rapid model for hair induction in nude mouse.
  
  
  METHODS
  We designed an improved flap model (IFM) for hair regeneration based on the existing flap assay. Histological sections and scanning electron microscopy were used to evaluate the regenerated hair. The fates of grafted cells were traced by fluorescence. The time required for hair induction was analysed and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IFM produced a large number of normal hairs, and the time required for hair induction using IFM was 20.67 ± 0.67 days, compared with 29.33 ± 0.67 days for the traditional flap assay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The time required for hair regeneration is considerably shortened with IFM. We speculate that this is due to increased blood supply at the transplantation sites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Y-S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: J-D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, The Shenzhen Baoan Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, The Shenzhen Baoan Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Z-Q
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020405:Dermis / Q000166:cytology; D006197:Hair / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D023421:Models, Animal; D012038:Regeneration; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*