033 Introduction to in vivo and in vitro models for the study of hair follicles

Randall VA Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, BD7 1DP, UK

The way in which the complex organ system of the hair follicle functions in health and disease is not well understood. Greater knowledge is essential to improve treatments for hair disorders. Studies on human follicles are hampered by ethical considerations and limited amounts of tissue. A number of alternative models have been devised based on human and other mammalian tissues to answer specific questions. These range from in vitro models based on isolated cell types to whole organ culture and in vivo models involving natural and genetically manipulated animals. These systems will be discussed in this workshop.