Lower Vibrissa Follicle Amputation: A Mammalian Model of Regeneration

Regeneration of damaged or lost cells, tissues, and organs continues to fascinate and intrigue researchers with the lure of creating beneficial therapeutics for use in wound healing and regenerative medicine. However, unlike many other animals, wound healing in mammalian species typically proceeds via imperfect repair rather than authentic regeneration of tissues. Here, we describe a model of mammalian regeneration which can be used by researchers to investigate conditions that permit renewal of lost tissue and identify potential barriers to mammalian regeneration. The methods describe the surgical procedures for amputation of the lower third of the whisker follicle (vibrissa) in the mouse, as well as subsequent isolation and processing of the regenerating follicles for analysis.