ABSTRACT
Objective HGF and its receptor ( c-met) are principal mediators of mesenchymal-epithelial interac-tion in several different systems.Moreover, hair follicle is a model of mesenchymal-epithelial interaction.The aim of this study was to explore whether HGF/c-met signal plays a role in the control of hair follicle growth cycle.Methods To ex-amine the localization of HGF/c-met in anagen, catagen and telogen in the hair follicle of ICR mice.Results HGF was mainly located in the dermal papilla and sebaceous gland, and c-Met in the hair matrix, root sheath and epidermis.Both HGF and c-met expressions peaked during anagen, not found in catagen, and increased during telogen-anagen phase.Con-clusions Our results demonstrate a regulatory role of HGF and c-met in the control of hair follicle growth in ICR mice.