Japanese Scientists Regenerate Human Hair on Bald Mouse

[MindMover]

Scientists in Japan may have good news for those going thin on top. A team at Tokyo University of Science has successfully regenerated hair on a bald mouse in a breakthrough that might eventually generate an alternative to hair transplants for those looking beyond comb-overs and toupees to cover their exposed pates.

After cultivating two different kinds of cells taken from hair follicles in mice, the team transplanted the cells into the hair follicles of a bald mouse. Within three weeks, 74% of the hair follicles implanted with the cells grew back hair. The new hair connected with nerves and surrounding tissues showing that the follicles had become fully functional and were able to regrow hair even after hair was pulled out.

The scientists were also able to play around with the density and color of the hair by changing the type of cells they transplanted into the mouse’s hair follicles. When they used cells from a human hair follicle, a human hair grew.

The results were published Tuesday in the online journal Nature Communications.

http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2012/04/18/japanese-scientists-regenerate-human-hair-on-bald-mouse/?

[bluesbassman]

1. The Brazillians will be pissed.

Oh wait, they did it to a mouse. Nevermind.

[cliffordu]

2. Yeah, but who the hell wants mouse hair growing on their heads??

[KamaAina]

3. So much for Hair Club for Mice.

[LynneSin]

4. Well about time - all those mice with human brains need some hair too!

*** channelling her best Christine O'Donnell ***

[Kaleva]

5. Fantastic! No more will bald mice feel like they are 2nd class rodents.

[benld74]

6. Jerry, from Tom and Jerry lets out a big sigh of relief,,,,,,