title: Oral cyclosporin A restores hair growth in the DEBR rat model for alopecia areata.
abstract: The Dundee experimental bald rat (DEBR) undergoes hair loss associated with the development of peri- and intrafollicular mononuclear cell infiltrates, as occurs in human alopecia areata. We studied the effect of orally administered cyclosporin A (10 mg/kg; 5 days/week for 7 weeks) on established lesional DEBR rats displaying extensive areas of hair loss. New hairs appeared after 10 days and there was simultaneous regrowth of hair over the whole body with restoration of a full pelt by 5 weeks. Semiquantitative histological examination of flank skin biopsies revealed early reduction of the cellular infiltrate associated with conversion of dystrophic anagen follicles to normal, hair-producing follicles. These results confirm the value of the DEBR model of alopecia areata in evaluating existing and new therapies for this disease in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Dundee, UK.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lowe
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine