Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia in Mice: Induction by Cyclophosphamide, Inhibition by Cyclosporine A, and Modulation by Dexamethasone

In 1994, a study was conducted on C57BL-6 mice to understand the biology of chemotherapy-induced alopecia and to develop anti-alopecia drugs. The study used cyclophosphamide (CYP) to induce alopecia, which closely mirrored the follicle response, recovery, and histopathology seen in human CYP-induced alopecia. The severity of the alopecia was found to be dose-dependent. The study also found that the follicular response to CYP could be manipulated pharmacologically. Systemic cyclosporine A was found to retard CYP-induced alopecia and prolong primary recovery, while topical dexamethasone forced follicles into dystrophic catagen, which increased CYP-induced alopecia but accelerated the regrowth of normally pigmented hair.