Ability of transplanted cultured epithelium to respond to dermal papillae

Cultured epithelium has been used successfully in the treatment of extensiv e burns. Regenerated epidermis, however, lacks such as hair follicles and s weat glands that are common in mammalian skin. We attempted to determine wh ether cultured epithelium could be induced to form hair follicles by dermal papillae, which are most important for the morphogenesis and growth of hai r follicles. We cultivated adult rat sole keratinocytes, obtained the cultu red epithelium, and prepared recombinants consisting of cultured epithelium and fresh dermal papillae with or without the sole dermis. These recombina nts were then transplanted underneath the dermis of the dorsal skin of syng eneic rats or athymic mice. Histologic examination revealed that the transp lanted cultured epithelium formed the follicular structures with sebaceous gland-like structure following induction of the dermal papillae, especially when supported by the dermis. We concluded that transplanted cultured epit helium of adult rat sole keratinocytes can respond to growth signals from a dult dermal papillae.