Abstract: The study investigated the structure and development traits of skin and hair follicle of 0-week-old to 6-week-old neonatal male minks. Skin samples were obtained from central back of minks. Tissue sections were prepared by using HE staining method. The results showed that the guard hair and underfur of minks had hair medulla; mink was born without the secondary follicles, but the structure of the primary follicles had formed. The density of primary follicles firstly increased and decreased at 4-week-old with the increase of week age. Primary hair follicles no longer developed or rarely developed after 4-week-old. At 4-week-old, some of the secondary follicles had formed. The density of the secondary follicles increased with the increase of week age. Secondary hair follicles and primary hair follicles average ratio (S/P) was 2.95±0.23. Secondary hair follicles still developed after 6-week-old. The epidermises of neonatal minks were firstly thicken, and then thinning. The dermal of the minks thickened and the primary and secondary follicles deepen with the increase of week age.

Key words: mink; neonatal; hair follicle; development