The Germinative Epithelium of Sheep Vibrissae and Wool Follicles has Extensive Proliferative Potential but is Dependent on the Dermal Papilla.

Aim: To investigate the growth potential of keratinocytes derived from the germinative epithelium (GE) of ovine hair follicles. Stem cells from the outer root sheath (ORS) of hair follicles migrate to the GE in the lower follicle where they proliferate and differentiate to form the hair fiber. It has been suggested that the GE comprises transit-amplifying cells and that the duration of anagen is determined by their limited proliferative potential.