Inductive Capacity of Irradiated Dermal Papillae

The study published in 1977 investigated the effects of heavy doses of irradiation on the dermal papilla and epithelial elements of hair follicles. It was found that while high doses of irradiation caused permanent hair loss by destroying the epithelium, the dermal papilla remained anatomically and functionally intact. This intact dermal papilla, even after transplantation, was capable of inducing the growth of new hairs. This finding suggested that the dermal papilla played a crucial role in hair regeneration and could maintain its inductive capacity despite irradiation.