Effect of N-Acetylcysteine on Hair Follicle Changes in Mouse Model of Cyclophosphamide-Induced Alopecia: Histological and Biochemical Study

The research involved 40 adult female C57BL/6 mice to study the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) against cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced alopecia. The mice were divided into four groups, with one group receiving CYP, another receiving both CYP and NAC, and a third receiving only NAC. The results showed that CYP led to hair follicle dystrophy, disruption of follicular melanogenesis, and loss of ki67 immunoreactivity. However, coadministration of NAC reversed these alterations, preserved hair follicle structure, and maintained a normal pattern of p53 and ki67 expression. Biochemical analysis showed that NAC significantly decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, indicating reduced oxidative stress. The study concluded that NAC could potentially be used to prevent hair loss in patients undergoing chemotherapy.