Objective To establish a convenient method for the selection of hair follicle stem cells and study the effects of ?-catenin on the regulation of proliferation and differentiation of hair follicle stem cells.Methods Based on the strong specific adherent ability of stem cells,hair follicle cells were incubated in the plates coated with human collagen before use.Hair follicle stem cell's marker K19 and clone forming efficency were used to identify the stem cells.The expression of ?-catenin was tested by immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization.Results After adherence to collagen for 20min,the number of Kl9 positive cells among quickly-adhered cells increased 1.6 times more than unselected cells and clone forming efficiency increased 3.5 times.The expression of ?-catenin protein increased in the nuclear of quickly-adhered cells.Conclution The selection method of human hair follicle stem cells by quick-adherence to collagen was established for the first time.?-catenin was involved in the regulation of hair follicle stem cells'proliferation and differentiation.

ObjectiveTo investigate effects of combined regimen of low dose gossypol with steroid hormones on apoptosis of spermatocyte and phagocytosis of sertoli cells. Methods Adult male rats were divided into four groups randomly, group GH: rats were fed orally with gossypol(GA) [ 12.5mg / (kg·d) ] and desogestrel(DSG)[125μg/(kg·d) ]/ethinyloestradil(E)[25μg/ (kg·d) ]/testosterone undecanoate(TU)[100mg/(kg·d) ]; group G: a single does of GA[12.5mg/(kg·d ) ] was given; group H: DSG[125μg/(kg·d) ]/E[25μg/(kg·d) ]/TU[100mg/(kg·d) ] were administered; group C: rats only received vehicle(1% methyl cellulose). Testes from all the rats were removed at 4, 6 and 8 weeks after treatment for counting of spermatocyte and round spermatid using stereological assay, and for detecting apoptosis of spermatocyte and phagocytosis of sertoli cell by TUNEL and oil red O staining respectively. Results In GH group, the number of spermatocyte and round spermatid were reduced, while apoptosis of spermatocyte and staining of oil red O in seminiferous epithelium increased significantly. All changes were caused by steroid hormones in the combined regimen. Conclusion Induction of apoptosis of spermatocyte and then being phagocytosed by Sertoli cell is one of antifertility mechanisms of the combined regimen.