TLDR Human hair follicles can grow in a lab for at least 9 days without serum, keeping their natural characteristics.
The study reported the successful prolonged in vitro growth of isolated human hair follicles for at least 9 days using a completely defined serum-free medium. This medium was supplemented with antibiotics, L-glutamine, insulin, and hydrocortisone. The research demonstrated that hair follicles maintained in this medium preserved their in vivo DNA synthesis patterns and retained similar gross morphology and histology to freshly isolated follicles. Additionally, the keratin synthesis patterns remained unchanged during maintenance, as shown by [35S] methionine labeling.
27 citations
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January 1993 in “Archives of Dermatological Research” Hair follicles can grow and increase DNA synthesis in a serum-free environment, and minoxidil sulphate boosts this process.
385 citations
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November 1990 in “Journal of Cell Science” Human hair follicles can grow in a lab setting.
102 citations
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February 2008 in “The FASEB Journal” One minoxidil-sensitive potassium channel exists in human hair follicles.
55 citations
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December 2014 in “Dermatologica sinica/Zhōnghuá pífūkē yīxué zázhì” Keratinocytes control how melanocytes work.
1 citations
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July 2013 in “Hair transplant forum international” Advancements in hair follicle culture have led to better understanding and potential treatments for hair loss.
13 citations
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December 1991 in “Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences” Researchers created a lab model to study human hair growth, showing it can grow and self-regulate outside the body.
2 citations
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November 2003 in “Humana Press eBooks” Hair follicle cells can help heal wounds and study skin diseases.
30 citations
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May 2010 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Intermediate hair follicles are a better model for studying hair growth and testing hair loss treatments.
