Long-Term Extensive Ectopic Hair Growth on the Spinal Cord of Mice from Transplanted Whisker Follicles

The study investigated the long-term effects of transplanting whisker follicles onto the spinal cord of mice, revealing extensive ectopic hair growth that persisted over time. Researchers transplanted whisker follicles from ND-GFP mice into the injured spinal cords of nude mice, observing healed spinal cord lesions and intense ND-GFP expression after 90 days, indicating stem cell involvement in healing. Unexpectedly, long hair shafts grew from the transplanted follicles, suggesting that hair follicle stem cells could be valuable for spinal cord repair. Out of 7 mice studied, 6 showed extensive ectopic hair growth, highlighting the need for further research into conditions promoting hair growth at ectopic sites.