HUMAN HAIR FOLLICLE GERMINATIVE EPIDERMAL-CELL CULTURE

Isolated human hair follicle germinative epidermal cells were observed in vitro for the first time. When cultured alone, this small, round, novel cell type did not grow, divide, take on an outer root sheath-typ e appearance, or display any obvious signs of epidermal differentiatio n. We have previously described comparable cells from rat vibrissa fol licles. However, in combination with human hair follicle dermal papill a populations, the germinative epidermal cells were stimulated into pr oliferative and complex interactive behaviors. This included the forma tion of composite organotypic structures containing not only impressiv ely intact basement membrane, but also the hair-specific form, glassy membrane.