Sheep Vibrissa Dermal Papillae Induce Hair Follicle Formation in Heterotypic Skin Equivalents

The study investigated the potential of sheep vibrissa dermal papillae to induce hair follicle formation in skin equivalents. Researchers combined keratinocytes and other cells with a collagen matrix and fibroblasts, grafting these onto host animals. While initial grafts showed no cutaneous appendages, incorporating ovine dermal papillae led to the formation of follicle-like structures when grafted onto nude mice. These structures, although not fully compatible with normal follicle formation, displayed many in vivo follicle characteristics, including keratinized hair production. The findings suggested that skin equivalents could serve as a valuable model for studying the factors that promote hair follicle development.