Epithelial Growth by Rat Vibrissae Follicles In Vitro Requires Mesenchymal Contact via Native Extracellular Matrix

The study investigated the growth of epithelial cells in rat vibrissae follicles in vitro, focusing on the necessity of mesenchymal contact through the native extracellular matrix. The research demonstrated that direct interaction with mesenchymal components was crucial for epithelial growth, highlighting the importance of the extracellular matrix in facilitating this process. This finding underscored the complex interplay between different cell types and their environments in hair follicle development.