Hair Growth and Skin in the Kinky-Coat (kc) Musk Shrew, Suncus murinus

Abstract

Hair growth and skin structure were examined in kinky coat (kc) musk shrews, Suncus murinus. The first hair growth cycle and the development of hair bulbs were normal. Histological characteristics of hair follicles and bulbs were similar in kc/kc and normal +/kc shrews. The mean thickness of epidermis and dermis did not differ significantly between the kc/kc and +/kc shrews. And no histological abnormalities were observed in the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis of the kc/kc shrews. Consequently, it is clear that the kc mutation had no effects on the hair growth and skin structure, but caused hair shaft modifications as previously observed. These characteristics of the kc mutation were quite distinct from those of the previously reported rodent mutations causing complicated abnormalities in the hair and skin.