A STUDY OF THE DIFFERENTIATION PRODUCTS OF THE HAIR FOLLICLE CELLS WITH THE ELECTRON MICROSCOPE

[摘要] Thin sections of the guinea pig hair follicle were studied in the electron microscope, and the following observations were made on the differentiation products of the different cell lines which arise from the matrix Electron micrographs reveal that the medullary cells develop amorphous granules in their cytoplasm which fuse into a homogeneous appearing mass at the terminal stage and form an amorphous type of keratin. The cortical cells first develop wispy filaments which combine to form bundles. Later an amorphous substance is deposited between the filaments, and a filament-cement complex is formed that fills the bulk of the terminal cells. The cuticular cells form amorphous cyto-plasmic granules which align parallel to the inner cell membrane and form rows. During advanced stages of differentiation the granules coalesce and form an amorphous keratin that fills the major portion of the cytoplasm. The inner root sheath cells develop both cytoplasmic filaments and trichohyalin granules during early stages of differentiation. The trichohyalin granules are complex structures; they consist of filaments and an amorphous substance. During transformation of the cells into horny cells, the amorphous component of the trichohyalin granules disappears. The horny cells are filled with filaments and an amorphous interfibrillary substance.