Modulatory role of sensory innervation on hair follicle stem cell progeny during wound healing of the rat skin.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The bulge region of the hair follicle contains resident epithelial stem cells (SCs) that are activated and mobilized during hair growth and after epidermal wounding. However, little is known about the signals that modulate these processes. Clinical and experimental observations show that a reduced supply of sensory innervation is associated with delayed wound healing. Since axon terminals of sensory neurons are among the components of the bulge SC niche, we investigated whether these neurons are involved in the activation and mobilization of the hair stem cells during wound healing.

Methodology/principal findings

We used neonatal capsaicin treatment to reduce sensory terminals in the rat skin and performed morphometric analyses using design-based stereological met

SUBMITTER: Martinez-Martinez E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3344885 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature