The Effects of Epilation and Hormones on the Activity of Rat Hair Follicles

The study investigated the effects of epilation and various hormonal treatments on rat hair follicles using 35 S-cystine pulse-labelling. Epilation did not alter the length, rate, or duration of hair growth in both untreated and hormone-treated rats. Thyroxine was found to shorten both the active and resting phases of the follicular cycle while increasing the growth rate, resulting in hair lengths comparable to untreated rats. Estradiol slightly shortened the active phase duration but prolonged the overall cycle and decreased the growth rate. When combined, estradiol and thyroxine acted independently without affecting each other's influence on hair growth.