Comparisons of Mouse Models for Hair Follicle Reconstitution

The study by Liang et al. evaluated three mouse models for hair follicle reconstitution: the chamber, flap, and patch assays, using mouse epithelial cells (MECs) and mouse dermal cells (MDCs). The flap assay took the longest at 29 ± 2 days but yielded the most clinically natural follicles, while the chamber assay was labor-intensive but produced dense, clinically normal follicles. The patch assay was the fastest at 20 ± 3 days but resulted in poorly oriented follicles and was associated with granulomas. A minimum of 1 × 10^6 epidermal cells and 1 × 10^3 dermal cells were necessary for successful hair follicle reconstitution. The chamber model was the most reproducible, the flap assay required fewer cells but more labor, and the patch assay was quick but less suitable for studying hair shaft quality or density. Each model had its own advantages and disadvantages, making them suitable for different research goals.