Viability of isolated single hair follicles preserved at 4 degrees C

BACKGROUND. Hair follicle preservation for the purpose of delayed applicati on would help us to transplant hair follicles more efficiently. METHODS. Isolated single hair follicles were preserved at 4 degrees C in fo ur different solutions. Viability of preserved follicles was judged by orga n culture and cell culture. In addition, a small number of hair follicles w ere transplanted into athymic mice. RESULTS. By cell culture, both dermal papilla and outer root sheath cells c ould be cultivated after 7 days of preservation. Hair follicles preserved f or 48 hours showed a significant increase of hair shafts in organ culture. Those preserved for 7 days regrew well when transplanted into athymic mice. CONCLUSION. Preservation of hair follicles at 4 degrees C could be one opti on to prepare many follicular units at one time for transplantation.