The Transplantation of Individual Rat and Guinea-pig Whisker Papillae

Abstract

ABSTRACTA method is described for the removal and transplantation of vibrissa follicle bases (end bulbs). The whole papilla may be dissected from the capsule and follicle wall, and the dermal papillae may also be dissected out. Transplants have been made to various sites. No whisker was produced from end bulbs implanted into body skin, but whiskers were produced from end bulbs in the spleen, and from both end bulbs and whole papillae under ear skin. Several generations of whisker have been produced from some of the implants, but retention of the club whisker has not been observed. It is concluded that the whisker papilla is a permanent entity in the same sense as is the feather papilla, despite follicular changes during the growth-cycle. Dermal papillae may cause local ear epidermis to invest them, and pre-sumably this produces hair of local kind, as no whisker or whisker follicle was discovered. It is suggested that the whisker papilla is a non-specific organizer, speci-ficity residing in the ectoderm concerned.