Relationships between cell proliferation in the follicle bulb and dermal papilla measurements in wool follicles from New Zealand Romney sheep during different seasons

摘要

Abstract Little information is available on the influence on overall fibre production of either size changes in the follicle bulb or relative changes in bulb structures. Various criteria have been used to quantify the size of the germinative tissue zone but none have been assessed for their suitability or sensitivity as predictors of bulb cell production and cortical cell migration. This study investigated the relationships firstly between the number of replicating cells in the follicle bulb and various measurements of follicle bulb diameter and areas, and secondly between 3‐dimensional extrapolations of bulb measurements and papilla dimensions. The raw follicle data are derived from a companion study (Holle et al. 1994) of Romney sheep with two genetically different levels of wool production examined during periods of low (winter) and high (summer) fibre production. Strong relationships existed between similar measurements (e.g., diameters), but their relationship varied with season. Bulb diameter was on...