Differential Distribution and Genetic Determination of Eccrine Sweat Glands and Hair Follicles in the Volar Skin of C57BL/6 Mice and SD Rats

The study investigated the distribution and genetic determination of eccrine sweat glands (ESGs) and hair follicles (HFs) in the volar skin of C57BL/6 mice and Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats. It found that ESGs were present but HFs were absent in the footpads of both animal models, while both ESGs and HFs were found in the inter-footpads (IFPs) of C57BL/6 mice, and neither were present in the IFPs of SD rats. The expression of the En1 gene correlated with ESG distribution, and LHX2 gene expression correlated with HF distribution. The study concluded that the distribution characteristics of ESGs and HFs in these animals should guide the selection of appropriate models for research on skin appendage development, wound healing, and regeneration.