Hair Growth

Monasterium Laboratory uses ex vivo culture of human hair follicles and human full thickness skin to investigate whether compounds/formulations (also via topical application) promote or inhibit hair growth. Specifically, as standardized readout parameters, we evaluate the following by morphology and immunohistology/quantitative (immuno-)histomorphometry (for details on our techniques, please click here):
 

• Macroscopic hair cycle staging (number of hair follicle in anagen VI and catagen)
• Hair follicle elongation (correlates with hair shaft production)
• Hair matrix keratinocyte proliferation and apoptosis
• Microscopic hair cycle staging and score (number of hair follicles in anagen VI, early, mid, and late catagen)
• Hair cycle independent hair follicle pigmentation
• Expression of the anagen promoting growth factor insulin-like growth factor 1
• Expression of the catagen promoting growth factor transforming growth factor

 
In addition, using qRT-PCR and/or in situ hybridization, we can analyse the expression of molecules involved in anagen/catagen conversation, and assess these within specific compartments from skin or hair tissue sections following laser capture microdissection.
 
Additional readout parameters are available, and customized experiments can be designed to meet the needs of our customers.

CLICK HERE for a flyer showing our approach for “Investigating the effect of a test compound on hair growth and anagen-catagen conversion” ​

A selection of our publications on the topic:
Chéret et al., Nat Commun 2018; Haslam et al., J Invest Dermatol 2018; Alam et al., Br J Dermatol 2018; Parodi et al, PLoS Biol. 2018; Hawkshaw et al., PLoS Biol. 2018; Olah et al., I Invest Dermatol 2016; Langan et al., Exp Dermatol 2015; Kloepper et al., Exp. Dermatol 2010.

For service / collaboration inquiries, please contact:
Principle Scientist: Dr. Marta Bertolini
E-mail: m.bertolini(at)monasteriumlab.com
phone: +49 (0)251 93263-080

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