Effect of Sodium Silicate on Hair Growth in C57BL/6 Mice
January 2010
in “
Laboratory Animal Research
”
TLDR Sodium silicate helped mouse hair grow similarly to a known hair growth treatment.
In a 2010 study, the effects of sodium silicate on hair growth were examined in C57BL/6 mice. The study compared the application of two concentrations of sodium silicate (50% and 100% Na2SiO3), 5% minoxidil (MXD), and distilled water (DW) over three weeks. Results indicated that sodium silicate, like MXD, promoted hair regrowth compared to DW. MXD increased y-glutamyl transpeptidase activity, while sodium silicate did not significantly affect enzyme activities but did increase epidermal growth factor expression. Neither treatment significantly altered vascular endothelial growth factor levels, but both decreased transforming growth factor-beta1 expression. These findings suggest sodium silicate may be beneficial for treating alopecia or baldness, although the number of mice used in the study was not specified in the summary.
