NUTRITIONAL AND FUNCTIONAL BLOOD-VESSELS OF ANAGEN AND TELOGEN VIBRISSAL FOLLICLES IN THE CAT

The nutritional blood vessel system in the anagen (growing) vibrissal follicle consists of a rete capillare papillae pill, rete capillare bu lbi pill, rete capillare folliculi pili, and rete capillare canalis pi ll. Due to degeneration of papilla and bulb during the sinus hair cycl e, the basal capillary networks are absent in the telogen (resting) vi brissal follicle. Thus, nonpermanent and permanent capillary networks have to be distinguished. A functional blood vessel system originates from arterioles that enter the sinus cavernosus at its basolateral sid e. Blood flow continues into the sinus anularis, Efferent capillaries, originating from the apical-axial area of the sinus anularis, build u p a separate network for the collection of blood from the sinuses. The se capillaries continue towards the dermis, contribute to the nutritio nal vascularization of the sebaceous gland, and finally connect with t he subepidermal capillary loops.