Establishment of a Culture Model for the Prolonged Maintenance of Chicken Feather Follicles Structure In Vitro

Using protocols adapted from those developed for human hair follicles, researchers have successfully cultured juvenile chicken feather follicles (FF) in vitro for up to 7 days, preserving their structure and morphology. Histological analysis and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the integrity of the FF wall epithelium. Although a slight elongation of feathers was observed in 75% of the samples up to day 5, the expression and localization of structural proteins scaffoldin and fibronectin were maintained. Gene expression analysis revealed no changes in NCAM, LCAM, Wnt6, Notch1, and BMP4, but there were decreases in Shh and HBS1 expression, an increase in DKK3, and a transient increase in KRT14, suggesting some transcriptional modifications due to cultivation. This study presents the first method for culturing chicken FF in vitro that closely resembles the in vivo state, offering a model for studying feather interactions with pathogens or toxins and potentially reducing the need for animal experimentation.