TLDR Blocking testosterone speeds up wound healing in males.
The study found that androgen receptors (AR) played a significant role in inhibiting wound healing in C57BL/6 mice, with increased AR expression in various skin cells during early wound healing stages. Castration accelerated healing, reduced wound areas, and increased collagen deposition, indicating that male gonadal steroids, particularly testosterone, inhibited healing by directly affecting epidermal/dermal cells or the inflammatory response. Reduced TNF-α expression and inflammation in castrated mice implicated TNF-α as a key factor regulated by gonadal steroids. Human studies supported these findings, showing slower healing in elderly males compared to females, linked to higher testosterone levels and increased TNF-α. Blocking AR with flutamide mimicked castration effects, reducing inflammation and accelerating healing, suggesting testosterone delays wound healing by enhancing inflammation through AR.
163 citations,
October 2001 in “EMBO journal” Overexpressing follistatin in mice delays wound healing and reduces scar size.
71 citations,
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100 citations,
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68 citations,
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48 citations,
February 2013 in “Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology” The protein StAR is found in 17 different organs and can affect hair loss and brain functions, but its full role is not yet fully understood.
