The effect of IGF-I on the growth of secondary hair follicles of the Cashmere goat in vitro

Abstract

Factors regulating the growth of Cashmere fibre and the hair follicle cycle are poorly understood. Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) or insulin at higher concentrations, have been shown to stimulate in vitro growth of human hair follicles (Philpott et al, 1994). The role of such mitogens in the production of cashmere fibre by the Cashmere goat has not been previously investigated. The objective the study reported here was to investigate the growth of hair follicles in the absence and presence of insulin or IGF-I using our established in vitro technique.