Gene expression profiles of isolated hair follicles analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.

<p>(A) Total RNA was extracted from a pool of 30–50 hair bulbs and mid-segments of hair follicle tissues. RT-PCR amplification was performed using primers specific for the molecular signature genes of the mature hair bulb melanocytes, the immature precursor cells of melanocytes, and anti-oxidant enzymes etc. as indicated in the gels and in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0093589#pone-0093589-t002" target="_blank">Table 2</a>. RT-PCR products were analyzed by electrophoresis on 1.0% agarose gels and images of PCR products are presented in reversed black and white in which the DNA band is black. PCR product sizes for each set of primers are noted in parentheses and were determined by comparison with a 100-bp DNA ladder (far left lane of each panel). (B) The intensity of each band was quantified using Image J densitometry software (NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA). The relative expression level of each targeted gene was normalized to expression of the housekeeping gene β-actin and is reported as relative expression from 3 independent experiments. *<i>P</i><0.05.