Fibroblast Growth Factor Influences the Development and Cycling of Murine Hair Follicles

The study investigated the impact of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on hair follicle development in neonatal mice. Newborn mice received daily subcutaneous injections of bFGF and bovine serum albumin (BSA) for 7 days. By Day 9, hairless, unpigmented skin appeared around the bFGF-treated sites, persisting until hair began to emerge at 14-16 days of age. Hair growth continued until the treated areas were mostly covered by 18-20 days. In contrast, control sites injected with BSA only showed no differences from normal skin. Histological analysis indicated that bFGF affected both the initiation and development of hair follicles, causing a significant delay in the hair cycle compared to controls.