Objective  To enrich and culture rat CD34

+

follicle stem cells by immunomagnetic beads [Vario magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS)

]

and investigate their biological characteristics.   Methods  Follicles were digested into cell suspension after obtained by microdissection and digestion. CD34

+

cells and CD34

-

cells were isolated after cell suspension was incubated with CD34 antibody and magnetic microbeads in turn an

d then flowed though an MACS column. The isolated cells were cultured after viability evaluation. Cell growth curve was plotted. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were carried out to observe the morphology and internal structure of follicle stem cells. The isolated cells were cultured and then identified by detecting the expression of β

1

-integrin

CD34 and α6-integrin by immunohistochemical assays.   Results  CD34

+

follicle cells were isolated effectively by using Vario MACS

and cultured successfully with relative high viability. Cell growth curve showed that CD34

+

cells proliferated quickly and had a longer proliferative phase compared with CD34

-

cells. The expressions of β

1

-integrin

CD34 and α6-integrin in the cultured CD34

+

cells were stronger than in CD34

-

cells. SEM and TEM indicated that the CD34

+

follicle stem cells were round in shape and with large nuclei

clear nucleoli

and increased cytoplasm/nucleus ratio.   Conclusion  CD34

+

follicle stem cells with relative high viability can are obtained effectively by using immunomagnetic beads.