Advancements in melanocytes in hair follicle.
- Author:
Ru-Zhi ZHANG
1
;
Wen-Yuan ZHU
Author Information
1. Department of Dermatology, Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui 233004, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Aging;
physiology;
Cell Differentiation;
Hair Follicle;
cytology;
physiology;
Humans;
Melanocytes;
physiology;
Stem Cells;
physiology
- From:
Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae
2007;29(2):268-271
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Melanoblasts, the precursors to melanocytes, originate in the neural crest. Some melanoblasts can travel to the hair follicle and further differentiate into pigment melanin-producing melanocytes. Hair follicles contain a pool of undifferentiated melanocyte stem cells (MSCs), which are sources of differentiated melanocytes, and functional melanocytes exhist in the hair bulb. The volume, life, and activity of melanocytes in a hair follicle is closely related with the growth cycle of follicle. Appearance of gray hair gray results from incomplete MSCs maintenance.
