Dihydrotestosterone inhibits murine hair growth via the androgen receptor.
BACKGROUND
Androgens cause regression of human hair follicles in the parietofrontal scalp, but the precise mechanisms by which they do so are unknown. Although many investigators have elucidated the effect of androgens on hair growth by using rodents and other animals, some of the evidence is conflicting.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of androgens on mouse hair regrowth and hair cycle by using androgen receptor knockout (ARKO) mice. Methods We examined the effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on hair regrowth by using ARKO mice and wild-type (WT) littermates, compared the hair cycles in ARKO mice and WT littermates by histology and histomorphometry, and measured hair length and thickness in ARKO mice and WT littermates.


RESULTS
DHT inhibited the hair regrowth of WT mice but not that of their ARKO littermates. The anagen phase in the second hair cycle was longer in ARKO mice than in their WT littermates. The hair of ARKO mice was longer and thicker than that of their WT littermates.


CONCLUSIONS
Androgens inhibit hair growth in mice, and this inhibition might be caused by androgen-androgen receptor signals.
Biological Science Research Laboratories, Research and Development Headquarters, LION Corporation, 100 Tajima, Odawara, Kanagawa 256-0811, Japan. a-naito@lion.co.jp
A
A
Naito
T
T
Sato
T
T
Matsumoto
K
K
Takeyama
T
T
Yoshino
S
S
Kato
M
M
Ohdera
D000818:Animals; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006197:Hair / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D006204:Hair Removal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000172:deficiency / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone