[The mutant gene wellhaarig disturbs the differentiation of hair follicle cells in the mouse]

Abstract

First generation (G1) hairs in mice homozygous for the wellhaarig (we) gene are wavy and shorter than in normal mice; basal regions of the hairs are deformed. Follicles of G1 hairs in mid-dorsal region of 8-, 12- and 16-days old we/we mice were examined. Huxley cells of the inner root sheath (IRS) in apical region of hair follicles appeared to be hypertrophied. Cytoplasm of these cells was not stained by basic dyes and showed no birefringence. Cytoplasm of the IRS Henle cells was not stained by basic dyes either. These data indicate that keratinization of the IRS cells is disturbed in mutant homozygotes. The layer of outer root sheath in the we/we mice was thinner than in normal mice; this is probably due to hypertrophy of the IRS cells. The structure of differentiating cells of the hair shaft in normal and mutant mice was similar. The data obtained suggest that abnormal G1 hairs in we/we mice result from disturbance in IRS cells differentiation.