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. 1993 Aug 1;90(15):7391–7395. doi: 10.1073/pnas.90.15.7391

Segregation of keratinocyte colony-forming cells in the bulge of the rat vibrissa.

K Kobayashi 1, A Rochat 1, Y Barrandon 1
PMCID: PMC47143  PMID: 8346261

Abstract

The epidermis and its related appendages such as the hair follicle constitute the epithelial compartment of the skin. The exact location and distribution of the keratinocyte colony-forming cells within the epidermis or its appendages are unknown. We report that in the rat vibrissa, keratinocyte colony-forming cells are highly clustered in the bulge-containing region. Approximately 95% of the total colonies formed in culture from fractionated vibrissae were in this location and fewer than 4% were located in the matrix area of the follicle. Finer dissection of the bulge-containing region located the colony-forming cells in the small part containing the bulge itself. The segregation of keratinocyte colony-forming cells in the bulge confirms the hypothesis that the bulge is the reservoir of the stem cells responsible for the long-term growth of the hair follicle and perhaps of the epidermis as well.

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Selected References

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