Hair Loss And Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical Axis Activity In Captive Rhesus Macaques (Macaca Mulatta)

May 2014 in “ PubMed ”

Melinda A. Novak, Amanda F. Hamel, Kris Coleman, Corrine K. Lutz, Julie M. Worlein, Mark T. Menard, A. Ryan, Kendra Rosenberg, Jerrold S. Meyer

hair loss hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis HPA axis hair cortisol cortisol alopecia stress-related hair loss

TLDR Higher stress levels may be linked to hair loss in rhesus macaques.

The study investigated the relationship between hair loss and chronic HPA axis activity in 99 captive rhesus macaques by measuring hair cortisol levels. It found that macaques with over 30% hair loss had higher hair cortisol concentrations compared to those with less than 5% hair loss, suggesting a potential link between stress and hair loss. This correlation was observed in two of the three facilities studied. However, the study could not determine if the relationship was causal or correlational, and the source of the increased cortisol in alopecic monkeys' hair remains unknown. Additionally, friction with cage surfaces contributed to hair loss in 18 monkeys.

View this study on pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

11 / 11 results

research Alopecia in Three Macaque Species Housed in a Laboratory Environment

17 citations , November 2013 in “American Journal of Primatology”

Different monkey species in a lab showed varying levels of hair loss due to factors like type, sex, age, season, and living conditions.

research Localization, Age- and Site-Dependent Expression, and Regulation of 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 in Skin

119 citations , August 2010 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

research Heat Treatment Increases the Incidence of Alopecia Areata in the C3H/HeJ Mouse Model

18 citations , June 2010 in “Cell Stress and Chaperones”

Heat treatment increases hair loss in certain mice.

Alopecia in Rhesus Macaques Correlates with Immunophenotypic Alterations in Dermal Inflammatory Infiltrates Consistent with Hypersensitivity Etiology

research Alopecia in Rhesus Macaques Correlates with Immunophenotypic Alterations in Dermal Inflammatory Infiltrates Consistent with Hypersensitivity Etiology

23 citations , January 2010 in “Journal of Medical Primatology”

Hair loss in Rhesus macaques may be caused by a skin allergy-related condition.

research Alopecia: Possible Causes and Treatments, Particularly in Captive Nonhuman Primates

87 citations , February 2009 in “PubMed”

Alopecia in captive primates can be caused by many factors, so thorough testing is needed before blaming stress.

research Pressure Alopecia from Orthodontic Headgear

16 citations , September 2008 in “American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics”

Wearing orthodontic headgear can cause reversible hair loss if detected early.

research Foot Shock Stress Prolongs the Telogen Stage of the Spontaneous Hair Cycle in a Non-Depilated Mouse Model

31 citations , April 2007 in “Experimental Dermatology”

Stress in mice delays hair growth and treatments blocking substance P can partly reverse this effect.

Coat Condition, Housing Condition, And Measurement Of Fecal Cortisol Metabolites: A Non-Invasive Study About Alopecia In Captive Rhesus Macaques (Macaca Mulatta)

research Coat Condition, Housing Condition, And Measurement Of Fecal Cortisol Metabolites: A Non-Invasive Study About Alopecia In Captive Rhesus Macaques (Macaca Mulatta)

51 citations , November 2005 in “Journal of Medical Primatology”

Alopecia in captive rhesus macaques is affected by season, sex, age, housing, and stress, with complex links between stress hormones and hair loss.

research Human Hair Follicles Display a Functional Equivalent of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis and Synthesize Cortisol

489 citations , June 2005 in “The FASEB Journal”

Human hair follicles can produce cortisol like the body's stress response system.

Seasonal and Social Correlates of Changes in Hair, Skin, and Scrotal Condition in Vervet Monkeys (Cercopithecus Aethiops) of Amboseli National Park, Kenya

research Seasonal and Social Correlates of Changes in Hair, Skin, and Scrotal Condition in Vervet Monkeys (Cercopithecus Aethiops) of Amboseli National Park, Kenya

75 citations , January 1995 in “American journal of primatology”

Vervet monkeys show physical changes like hair loss and scrotal color changes due to stress or nutrition issues.

research Zinc Deficiency in Rhesus and Bonnet Monkeys, Including Effects on Reproduction

70 citations , March 1980 in “Journal of Nutrition”

Zinc deficiency in monkeys causes skin issues and reproductive problems, but supplementation reverses these effects.

Related Research

1 / 1 results

research Towards a Molecular Understanding of Hair Loss and Its Treatment

236 citations , July 2001 in “Trends in Molecular Medicine”

Future hair loss treatments should aim to extend hair growth, reactivate resting follicles, reverse shrinkage, and possibly create new follicles, with gene therapy showing promise.

Hair Loss And Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical Axis Activity In Captive Rhesus Macaques (Macaca Mulatta)

Research cited in this study

research Alopecia in Three Macaque Species Housed in a Laboratory Environment

research Localization, Age- and Site-Dependent Expression, and Regulation of 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 in Skin

research Heat Treatment Increases the Incidence of Alopecia Areata in the C3H/HeJ Mouse Model

research Alopecia in Rhesus Macaques Correlates with Immunophenotypic Alterations in Dermal Inflammatory Infiltrates Consistent with Hypersensitivity Etiology

research Alopecia: Possible Causes and Treatments, Particularly in Captive Nonhuman Primates

research Pressure Alopecia from Orthodontic Headgear

research Foot Shock Stress Prolongs the Telogen Stage of the Spontaneous Hair Cycle in a Non-Depilated Mouse Model

research Coat Condition, Housing Condition, And Measurement Of Fecal Cortisol Metabolites: A Non-Invasive Study About Alopecia In Captive Rhesus Macaques (Macaca Mulatta)

research Human Hair Follicles Display a Functional Equivalent of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis and Synthesize Cortisol

research Seasonal and Social Correlates of Changes in Hair, Skin, and Scrotal Condition in Vervet Monkeys (Cercopithecus Aethiops) of Amboseli National Park, Kenya

research Zinc Deficiency in Rhesus and Bonnet Monkeys, Including Effects on Reproduction

Related Community Posts Join

community Transient and Permanent Effects of Finasteride Use

community How I recovered from 4+ years of severe balding ages 20-24 by dieting, lifestyle changes and ONLY using topical minoxidil

community Mechanism of action of alfatradiol (17 alpha estradiol)

community There’s actually a quite good chance that next year, we might see a new treatment get FDA approval for the first time in nearly three decades.

community Ru, Stemoxydine or Alfatradiol? What has your experience been with any of these 3?

community Pyrilutamide: Increased libido. Anyone else experienced something similar with either RU or Pyri?

Related Research

research Towards a Molecular Understanding of Hair Loss and Its Treatment