Direct Effects of Minoxidil on Epidermal Cells in Culture
January 1984
in “
Journal of Investigative Dermatology
”
TLDR Minoxidil promotes hair growth by increasing cell division and DNA synthesis.
The study investigated the direct effects of minoxidil on epidermal cells in culture. The results showed that minoxidil stimulated DNA synthesis and cell division in these cells, suggesting that it may have a direct effect on hair growth. The drug also had direct effects on the proliferation and morphology of epithelial cells. The study suggests that minoxidil may be a useful probe to examine regulatory mechanisms of epidermal homeostasis.