Development and Validation of a C57BL/6 Mouse Model of Androgenetic Alopecia Through Testosterone Propionate Induction
March 2026
in “
Trends in Sciences
”
Studysummary This study developed a testosterone propionate-induced C57BL/6 mouse model of androgenetic alopecia, demonstrating that high-dose, prolonged testosterone administration inhibited hair regrowth and mirrored human AGA pathology, providing a useful platform for studying hair loss mechanisms and testing therapies targeting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
This study successfully developed a testosterone propionate-induced C57BL/6 mouse model of androgenetic alopecia (AGA), which mirrors human AGA pathology. Using 21 male mice divided into seven groups, the research demonstrated that high-dose (1.5 mg/day) and prolonged exposure (14 days) to testosterone propionate resulted in complete hair growth arrest, significant dermal thinning, follicular depletion, and marked suppression of β-catenin expression. These findings highlight the model's potential as a robust and physiologically relevant platform for exploring the mechanisms of AGA and testing therapeutic agents targeting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Despite the small sample size, the model provides a valuable tool for preclinical studies.
