In Vitro Culture and Histological Characterization of Extracted Human Hair Follicles

This study demonstrated that human hair follicles could be successfully cultured in vitro for at least 7 days before entering the catagen stage, characterized by upward regression and apoptosis of outer root sheath cells. The follicles initially grew at a rate of approximately 200 μm/day for the first four days, with growth ceasing after an average of 8.4 days. This in vitro model provided valuable insights into hair follicle biology and potential drug delivery targets.