Subcultivation of human hair follicle keratinocytes

Abstract A method is described for the subcultivation of human hair follicle keratinocytes. Primary cultures of these cells were grown on bovine eye lens capsules. Fragments of the colonies could successfully be transplanted onto new capsules. After two subcultivation steps, the keratinocytes remain diploid and still exhibit the same pattern of protein biosynthesis as primary cultures. The cultured hair follicle cells may be useful in investigations on genetically determined sensitivity towards carcinogens.