Assessing Dihydrotestosterone-Induced Skin Alterations in C57BL/6 Mice: Implications for Androgenetic Alopecia Through High-Resolution Ultrasound Imaging

The study investigated the effects of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on skin layers in male C57BL/6 mice to simulate Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) using high-resolution ultrasound imaging. Three mice received DHT injections, resulting in increased epidermal and dermal thickness compared to controls, as confirmed by ultrasound and histopathological staining. The AGA group showed an epidermis thickness of 0.31 mm and a dermis thickness of 0.70 mm at 40 MHz, compared to 0.22 mm and 0.30 mm in controls. Elasticity metrics revealed a significant increase in shear and Young modulus in the AGA group, indicating reduced skin elasticity. The findings suggest that DHT administration leads to significant structural and mechanical changes in skin, relevant to AGA.