Nestin-expressing Stem Cells Form the Whisker Sensory Nerve in 3D Gelfoam® Histoculture

Mouse whiskers containing hair-follicle-associated pluripotent (HAP) stem cells, from nestin-driven green fluorescent protein (ND-GFP) transgenic mice, were placed in 3D histoculture supported by Gelfoam(®). β-III tubulin-positive fibers, consisting of ND-GFP-expressing HAP stem cells, extended up to 500 mm from the whisker nerve stump in histoculture. The growing fibers had growth cones on their tips expressing F-actin indicating they were growing axons. The growing whisker sensory nerve was highly enriched in ND-GFP HAP stem cells which appeared to play a major role in its elongation and interaction with other nerves placed in 3D culture, including the sciatic nerve, the trigeminal nerve, and the trigeminal nerve ganglion. The results suggested that a major function of HAP stem cells in the hair follicle is for growth of the hair follicle sensory nerve.