[Advancements in melanocytes in hair follicle]

Zhongguo Yi Xue Ke Xue Yuan Xue Bao. 2007 Apr;29(2):268-71.
[Article in 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.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging / physiology
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Hair Follicle / cytology*
  • Hair Follicle / physiology
  • Humans
  • Melanocytes / physiology*
  • Stem Cells / physiology