The germinal matrix is a region surrounding the dermal papilla at the base of the hair bulb which contains a population of transit-amplifying matrix cells. It is the site where hair growth and pigmentation occur. During the active hair growth phase, germinal matrix cells rapidly proliferate and differentiate into cell lineages for all the follicle layers, causing the hair to elongate. Keratinization, the terminal differentiation to stabilize the complex of intermediate filaments and matrix of keratin-associated proteins, then takes place to anchor the hair in the follicle. Hair follicular cells are immunologically privileged and the germinal matrix of the implanted dermal papilla cells have the ability to induce new hair follicle formation, which suggests that it may be possible to treat hair loss using follicular cell implantation. HHGMC from ScienCell Research Laboratories are isolated from the human scalp. HHGMC are cryopreserved at passage one and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5 x 105 cells in 1 ml volume. HHGMC are characterized by their mesenchymal cell morphology and immunofluorescence with antibodies specific to fibronectin and/or CD105. HHGMC are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast, and fungi. HHGMC are guaranteed to further expand for 5 population doublings under the conditions provided by ScienCell Research Laboratories. Recommended Medium It is recommended to use Mesenchymal Stem Cell Medium (MSCM, Cat. #7501) for culturing HHGMC in vitro.