[An ultrastructural analysis of the cells of the outer root sheath of the hair follicles in mice of the wellhaarig mutant strain]

Abstract

Ultrastructure of cells of the outer root sheath (ORS) of the guard hair follicles from the dorsal part of the body of 12-day old we/we and +/+ mice was studied. Changes observed in the ultrastructure of ORS cells in mutant mice included greater vacuolization of the cytoplasm and damaged structure of mitochondria accompanied by the absence of crisis. Many cells of the ORS outer layer in hair follicles of we/we and +/+ mice showed electron-dense outgrowths oriented axo-proximally which suggests their possible involvement in transportation of the hair, by contraction of these outgrowths, to the skin surface. Possible mechanisms of hair growth in view of these data are discussed.