5 Paper in this licentiate thesis 7 Abbreviations 8 Introduction 9 The hair follicle 9 Hair follicle morphogenesis 10 Molecular regulation of the HF morphogenesis 12 The hair cycle 13 Catagen 14 Telogen 15 Anagen 15 LIM-homeodomain transcription factors 18 Lhx2 19 Aim 21 Results and discussion 22 Expression of Lhx2 during HF morphogenesis and postnatal cycling 22 Transgenic over-expression of L...

The expression pattern of the immunoglobulin DM-GRASP/BEN gene was studied in the mouse embryo using in situ hybridization. DM-GRASP/BEN is expressed in the spinal cord in a subset of motoneurons expressing Islet-1, and non homogeneously in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). In contrast, it's expression is homogeneous in the vestibulo-cochlear and trigemminal ganglia. DM-GRASP/BEN is also expressed...

To examine the properties of shadow and ghost cells, 3 kinds of antibodies were raised against human hair proteins and their immunoreactivity was examined in tumors expressing those cells: pilomatrixoma, 14 cases; craniopharyngioma, 17 cases; and calcifying odontogenic cyst (COC), 14 cases. Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analyses demonstrated that 2 p...

A study was carried out to evaluate the use of changes in hair root morphology in the assessment of protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) among a group of black West Indian children. The following five hair root characteristics were measured: percentage of anagen (the growing phase), percentage of telogen (the resting phase), percentage of atrophy, diameter of anagen bulbs, and shaft diameter. Sig...

BACKGROUND The skin is responsible for forming a variety of epidermal structures that differ amongst vertebrates. In each case the specific structure (for example scale, feather or hair) arises from an epidermal placode as a result of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions with the underlying dermal mesenchyme. Expression of members of the Wnt, Hedgehog and bone morphogenetic protein families (Wnt...

Cationic compounds with quaternary ammonium functional groups are used extensively in personal care product applications. One important class of such quaternary ammonium compounds is cationically charge-modified polymers derived from various animal and plant sources, including guar gum, cellulose, proteins, polypeptides, chitosan, lanolin, starches and amino silicones. These polymers have a dem...

After RNA extraction from horsehair shafts and roots, the mRNAs of beta-actin, muscle-type phosphofructokinase, and transforming growth factor-beta1 were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay. Low amounts of RNA were present in the horsehair. These specific mRNA transcripts were readily detected when more than three hair roots were used. However, detection of the mRN...

Mechanosensory transduction by vertebrate hair cells depends on a protein complex at the tips of shorter stereocilia associated with mechanoelectrical transduction channels activated by tip links in the hair bundle. In mammalian hair cells, this complex includes transmembrane channel-like protein subunit 1 (TMC1), lipoma HMGIC fusion partner-like 5 protein (LHFPL5) and protocadherin 15 (PCDH15)...

BACKGROUND Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common problem in men of all ages, affecting approximately 50% at 50 years of age. The underlying cause is an androgen-dependent miniaturization of genetically predetermined hair follicles. Here, the hair organ culture model was used to investigate the effects of testosterone and caffeine; the latter being a promising candidate for hair growth stimula...