The C3H/HeJ Mouse and DEBR Rat Models for Alopecia Areata: Review of Preclinical Drug Screening Approaches and Results

The C3H/HeJ mouse and DEBR rat models were used to study alopecia areata (AA), a cell-mediated disease targeting hair follicles. The C3H/HeJ mouse model's predictability was improved by grafting skin from AA-affected mice to normal mice, while the DEBR rat model had a higher frequency of spontaneous AA but was more costly. Despite their limitations, both models were effective for preclinical drug screening, with the mouse model being particularly useful for testing treatments for various cell-mediated diseases. Drug efficacy was assessed by observing hair regrowth, and some treatments effective in humans also worked in these rodent models, validating their relevance for human AA drug testing.