The distribution of glycoconjugate in the feline hair follicle and hair was
studied by light and electron microscopic histochemical methods. The hair
apparatus was found to contain considerable amounts of complex carbohydrate
s with different saccharide residues (alpha -D-mannose, beta -D-glucose, al
pha -L-fucose, beta -N-acetyl-D-glucosamine). Variations of those were dete
cted in the plasma membrane of the hair follicle cells during the course of
their differentiation and keratinization, namely, (alpha -D-glucose, alpha
-L-fucose and beta -N-acetyl-D-glucosamine in the suprabulbar and bulbar r
egions. The reaction level of sialic acid residues in the plasma membrane d
ecreased in some cell layers during the course of differentiation.
The results obtained from the present study indicated that interaction betw
een saccharide residues of neutral carbohydrates and sialyl groups during t
he anagen phase might contribute to cell keratinization in hair follicles a
nd hairs. It is discussed whether the existence of glycogen in outer root s
heath cells might enable these cells to provide other hair apparatus cells
with energy when necessary. Moreover, it became obvious from variations in
sialyl residue distribution that cell differentiation processes terminate f
irst of all in Huxley's and Henle's layers within the suprabulbar region of
the hair follicle, as followed by the hair cortex.