Organ culture of mouse vibrissal hair follicles in serum-free medium.

We developed a method for organ culture of mouse vibrissal hair follicles in a serum-free medium. Cultures conducted at 31 degrees C in 95% O2-5% CO2 were found to be suitable for the follicles, with several findings of considerable interest pertaining to hair growth. During the 96 h culture period, the length of the isolated follicles significantly increased; the hair bulb cells maintained their normal morphology; and DNA and protein synthesis within the bulb increased time-dependently. Furthermore, autoradiography showed that 3H-thymidine-labeling was localized in the matrix cells below Auber's critical line in the hair bulb; 3H-leucine-labeling was found in the epithelial region; and 35S-cysteine-labeling was detected in the cortex of hair, particularly in the keratogenous zone. These results indicate that the culture system using mouse vibrissal hair would be potentially useful as an effective model for examination of hair growth.