TLDR Adding fetal calf serum helps Merkel cells survive and change shape.
Merkel cells were isolated from the whisker pads of newborn rats and cultured in a serum-free medium, with over 90% identified by quinacrine fluorescence. In monolayer culture, they exhibited a flat round shape with thin lamellae. Most cells died within 48-72 hours in the serum-free medium, but adding fetal calf serum prevented cell death and caused the cells to adopt a fibroblast-like morphology.
2 citations,
September 1996 in “Neuroscience letters” Adding fetal calf serum to the medium kept Merkel cells alive and changed their shape.
25 citations,
December 1992 in “Seminars in cell biology” Skin stem cells are maintained by signals from nearby cells and vary in their ability to renew and mature.
11 citations,
September 2016 in “Journal of virological methods” Rabies virus was found in specific skin cells of rabid dogs' muzzles, suggesting these cells could help diagnose rabies.
8 citations,
January 1996 in “Springer eBooks” Male pattern baldness may be caused by factors like poor blood circulation, scalp tension, stress, and hormonal imbalances, but the exact causes are still unclear.
13 citations,
January 2022 in “Stem cell reviews and reports” Mouse stem cells from hair follicles can improve wound healing and reduce scarring.
