Hair Loss Study Abstract
Finasteride, a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, was administered orally (1 mg/kg.day) for 6 months to six male and five female stumptail macaques. Vehicle was given to five male and five female animals over the same period of time. Hair weights in a defined 1-in.2 area of frontal scalp were measured periodically every 1-2 months, and serum was collected for measurement of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. In addition, scalp biopsies were taken before and 6 months after treatment to evaluate the micromorphometry of hair follicles. Results showed that both male and female serum dihydrotestosterone levels were significantly reduced (60-70%) by finasteride treatment. Both males and females showed statistically significant increases in mean hair weight over the treatment period compared to controls (P = 0.034). In addition, there was a statistically significant increase in mean follicle length (measured histologically in scalp biopsies) compared to baseline in the finasteride-treated animals (P = 0.028). These data show that an inhibition of 5 alpha-reductase in the stumptail macaque can reverse the balding seen with age in both the male and female animals.
Author
Rhodes L, Harper J, Uno H, Gaito G, Audette-Arruda J, Kurata S, Berman C, Primka R, Pikounis B
Address
Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, New Jersey 07065-0900.
Source
J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 79: 4, 1994 Oct, 991-6
Language
English
Unique Identifier
95051280
