The whisker pad was dissected to obtain isolated vibrissae follicles with forceps and fine needles, from mice anesthetized using a ketamine mixture (intramuscular injection of a 0.02 ml solution of 20 mg/kg ketamine, 15.2 mg/kg xylazine, and 0.48 mg/kg acepromazine maleate), using a binocular microscope (MZ6, Leica, Weztlar, Germany). The isolated vibrissae hair follicles with their capsules were used for Gelfoam histoculture.