The innermost cell layer of the outer root sheath in anagen hair follicle: light and electron microscopic study

Abstract

To investigate cell differentiation in the outer root sheath (ORS) of the human anagen hair follicle, scalp skin specimens from individuals with normal hair were examined using light and electron microscopes. In the bulbar portion, the ORS was composed of two cell layers. The cells in the outer layer gradually increased in number upwards and finally underwent so-called trichilemmal keratinization, which proceeded toward the hair canal. On the other hand, the inner cells in the bulb formed a single cell layer along the outside of Henle's layer during cell differentiation; this unique layer was referred to as the innermost cell (IMC) layer of the ORS. With the use of hematoxylin and eosin stain, at the suprabulbar portion, where Henle's cells were keratinizing, an eosinophilic substance was deposited in the inner (Henle's) side of the IMC cytoplasm. The IMCs gradually became entirely eosinophilic and often produced keratohyaline granules. Ultrastructurally, the IMCs of the ORS showed an oblong shape forming a regularly arranged single-cell layer along the keratinizing Henle's layer and accumulated tonofilaments in the cytoplasm. They produced a few small electron-dense keratohyaline granules and were keratinized at the level at which Henle's layer still preserved its cell structure. From these findings, it is suggested that there are two types of keratinization of the ORS: trichilemmal keratinization and IMC keratinization.