Final answer:
Paracrine factor signals in hair follicles stimulate hair growth by promoting the division of stem cells and creation of new keratinocytes which form the hair structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
Paracrine factor signals in hair follicles primarily stimulate hair grow . Hair growth is initiated within a follicle when stem cells therein divide to produce new keratinocytes, which are cells that form most of the hair structure. Paracrine signals are important because they influence the behavior of cells that are close to the source of the signal, such as telling the hair follicle cells to divide and grow. These signals are part of a complex system that controls not only hair growth but also other functions like the maturation of sex organs, bone development, and the regulation of the reproductive capacity.
Functions such as an increase in blood flow and transudation of water, alongside increased cell division, are all stimulated by growth factors. The growth factors also play a role in signaling ectodermal cells to form both epidermal cells and neural crest cells. Therefore, in the context of hair follicles, paracrine factor signals regulate hair growth by ensuring the continuous division of stem cells and production of new hair shafts from the hair matrix.