Biomaterial Database

Prolonged maintenance of human hair follicles in vitro in a serum-free medium. 1993

G E Westgate, and W T Gibson, and T Kealey, and M P Philpott

Unilever Research, Sharnbrook, Bedford, U.K.

We have previously reported the in vitro growth of human hair follicles for up to 4 days in a partially defined medium containing serum. We now report the prolonged in vitro growth of isolated human hair follicles for at least 9 days. This was achieved after analysis of the contribution of certain components of the original medium and, by a process of elimination, deriving a completely defined medium supplemented only with antibiotics, L-glutamine, insulin and hydrocortisone. We have shown, by [methyl-3H] thymidine autoradiography, that the hair follicles grown in this medium maintain an in vivo pattern of DNA synthesis, and that the gross morphology and histology of these maintained hair follicles remains similar to that of freshly isolated hair follicles. We have also shown that the patterns of keratin synthesis, as determined by [35S] methionine labelling, do not alter with maintenance.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007633	Keratins	A class of fibrous proteins or scleroproteins that represents the principal constituent of EPIDERMIS; HAIR; NAILS; horny tissues, and the organic matrix of tooth ENAMEL. Two major conformational groups have been characterized, alpha-keratin, whose peptide backbone forms a coiled-coil alpha helical structure consisting of TYPE I KERATIN and a TYPE II KERATIN, and beta-keratin, whose backbone forms a zigzag or pleated sheet structure. alpha-Keratins have been classified into at least 20 subtypes. In addition multiple isoforms of subtypes have been found which may be due to GENE DUPLICATION.	Cytokeratin,Keratin Associated Protein,Keratin,Keratin-Associated Proteins,alpha-Keratin,Associated Protein, Keratin,Keratin Associated Proteins,Protein, Keratin Associated,alpha Keratin
D008715	Methionine	A sulfur-containing essential L-amino acid that is important in many body functions.	L-Methionine,Liquimeth,Methionine, L-Isomer,Pedameth,L-Isomer Methionine,Methionine, L Isomer
D006197	Hair	A filament-like structure consisting of a shaft which projects to the surface of the SKIN from a root which is softer than the shaft and lodges in the cavity of a HAIR FOLLICLE. It is found on most surfaces of the body.	Fetal Hair,Hair, Fetal,Lanugo,Fetal Hairs,Hairs,Hairs, Fetal
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001345	Autoradiography	The making of a radiograph of an object or tissue by recording on a photographic plate the radiation emitted by radioactive material within the object. (Dorland, 27th ed)	Radioautography
D013936	Thymidine	A nucleoside in which THYMINE is linked to DEOXYRIBOSE.	2'-Deoxythymidine,Deoxythymidine,2' Deoxythymidine
D016895	Culture Media, Serum-Free	CULTURE MEDIA free of serum proteins but including the minimal essential substances required for cell growth. This type of medium avoids the presence of extraneous substances that may affect cell proliferation or unwanted activation of cells.	Protein-Free Media,Serum-Free Media,Low-Serum Media,Culture Media, Serum Free,Low Serum Media,Media, Low-Serum,Media, Protein-Free,Media, Serum-Free,Media, Serum-Free Culture,Protein Free Media,Serum Free Media,Serum-Free Culture Media
D046508	Culture Techniques	Methods of maintaining or growing biological materials in controlled laboratory conditions. These include the cultures of CELLS; TISSUES; organs; or embryo in vitro. Both animal and plant tissues may be cultured by a variety of methods. Cultures may derive from normal or abnormal tissues, and consist of a single cell type or mixed cell types.	Culture Technique,Technique, Culture,Techniques, Culture