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Hair Loss Study Abstract: Hair growth effects of oral administration of finasteride, a steroid 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, alone and in combination with topical minoxidil in the balding stumptail macaque.
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Title
Hair growth effects of oral administration of finasteride, a steroid 5 alpha-reductase
inhibitor, alone and in combination with topical minoxidil in the balding stumptail
macaque. Author
Diani AR, Mulholland MJ, Shull KL, Kubicek MF, Johnson GA, Schostarez HJ, Brunden MN,
Buhl AE Address
Upjohn Laboratories, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001.
Source
J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 74: 2, 1992 Feb, 345-50
Abstract
A 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, finasteride, was administered orally at 0.5 mg/day, alone
or in combination with topical 2% minoxidil, for 20 weeks to determine the effects on
scalp hair growth in balding adult male stumptail macaque monkeys. A 7-day dose-finding
study showed that both 0.5- and 2.0-mg doses of the drug produced a similar diminution in
serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in male stumptails. Hair growth was evaluated by shaving
and weighing scalp hair at baseline and at 4-week intervals during treatment to obtain
cumulative delta hair weight (sum of the 4-week changes in hair weight from baseline) for
the 20-week study. The activity of the 5 alpha-reductase enzyme was assessed by RIA of
serum testosterone (T) and DHT at 4-week intervals. The combination of finasteride and
minoxidil generated significant augmentation of hair weight (additive effect) compared to
either drug alone. Finasteride increased hair weight in four of five monkeys. When the
data of the one nonresponsive monkey were excluded, finasteride elicited a significant
elevation in hair weight compared to topical vehicle alone. Minoxidil also evoked a
significant increase in hair weight compared to vehicle alone. Serum T was unchanged,
whereas serum DHT was significantly depressed in monkeys that received either finasteride
or the combination of finasteride and minoxidil. These data suggest that inhibition of the
conversion of T to DHT by this 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor reverses the balding process
and enhances hair regrowth by topical minoxidil in the male balding stumptail macaque.
Language of Publication English
Unique Identifier 92113079
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