TLDR Mice can regrow hair on wounds due to specific cell interactions and mechanical forces not seen in rats.
In the 2018 study by Guerrero-Juarez et al., researchers investigated the reasons behind species-specific wound-induced hair neogenesis (WIHN), which is observed in mice but not typically in rats. Through morphological, immunofluorescent, and expression profiling analyses, they discovered that a complex interaction of signals among epithelial, mesenchymal, and inflammatory cells triggers hair follicle formation in mice. The study also emphasized the role of the mechanical environment within the wound, indicating that tensional forces and extracellular matrix dynamics are crucial in determining whether WIHN occurs. The authors suggested that future research should aim to manipulate these pathways to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms essential for WIHN. The number of animals used in the study was not mentioned.
Cited in this study
7 / 7 results
21 citations
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June 2018 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Rats can't grow new hair follicles after skin wounds, unlike mice, due to differences in gene expression and response to WNT signaling.
92 citations
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August 2017 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America” Newborn mouse skin cells can grow hair and this process can be recreated in adult cells to potentially help with hair loss.
408 citations
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February 2017 in “Science” Some wound-healing cells can turn into fat cells around new hair growth in mice.
46 citations
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June 2015 in “Regeneration” Mice can grow new hair follicles after skin wounds through a process not involving existing hair stem cells, but requiring more research to understand fully.
42 citations
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January 2014 in “Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine” Hair growth is influenced by various body and external factors, and neighboring hairs communicate to synchronize regeneration.
418 citations
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September 2012 in “Nature” African spiny mice can regenerate skin, hair, and cartilage, but not muscle, and their unique abilities could be useful for regenerative medicine.
829 citations
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May 2007 in “Nature” Hair follicles can regrow in wounded adult mouse skin using a process like embryo development.