Formation of surface membranes in developing mammalian hair fibres

Wool: Structure, Properties, and Processing

“…The main differences exist in the presumptive surface of fiber cuticle cells, where the original plasma membrane appears to be disrupted. This process has been observed by using energy-filtered TEM (23), where it appears that the intercellular laminae are precursors to the formation of a new fiber cuticle surface membrane. It seems reasonable to conclude that a specialized hydrophobic membrane must be synthesized, because a plasma membrane is designed to exist only in a physiological environment and could not perform the protective and other specialist functions of the fiber surface membrane.…”

“…It seems reasonable to conclude that a specialized hydrophobic membrane must be synthesized, because a plasma membrane is designed to exist only in a physiological environment and could not perform the protective and other specialist functions of the fiber surface membrane. The mechanism involving separation of inner root sheath cuticle and fiber cuticle cells is essentially unknown, but the cleavage plane appears to occur along a densely stained ultrafine band located in the center of the intercellular laminae (23).…”

“…2), comprising outer sulfur-rich bands, known as the exocuticle, and inner regions of lower sulfur content called the endocuticle (22). On the exposed surface of cuticle cells, a membrane-like proteinaceous band (epicuticle) and a unique lipid component form a hydrophobic-resistant barrier (23). These lipid and protein components are the functional moieties of the fiber surface and are important in fiber protection and textile processing (21,24,25).…”

Integral hair lipid in human hair follicle

“…The globular particle exists in intercellular space during the development of hair cuticles and moves to an external area, forming the continuation of the LS [18]. The LS outside the hair cuticle is formed with the rupture of membrane outside the hair cuticle, and paired new LS, assumed to be IHL, is formed to fill the space outside the hair cuticle and between IRS cuticles [19]. When IRS cuticle and hair cuticle separate from each other, the LS on one side covers the outer surface of the hair cuticle and that on the other side is positioned on the surface of IRS cuticle.…”

Stem cells in embryonic skin development

“…The guard hair has low abundance (2-10%); it is straight, very long and contains two columns of medulla cells. This is also the only type of hair with two sebaceous glands instead of one as the other types have (Jones et al, 1994). Awl and auchene hair together comprise around 28% of the hair follicles of the mouse, being characterized as signifi cantly shorter than the guard hair, with two or more columns of medulla cells.…”