Effects of Halogenated Analogues of Cortisol and Progesterone Upon Hair Growth in Castrated Mice

The study investigated the effects of synthetic analogues of cortisol and progesterone on hair growth in castrated male C3H/Ep mice. It was found that the inhibitory effect on hair growth was increased by fluorination at C-9 alpha and methylation at C-16 alpha, while it decreased with hydroxylation at C-17 alpha and C-21, removal of the hydroxyl group at C-11, and the addition of bromine to C-12 alpha. Oxidation of the hydroxyl group at C-11 or delta 1-4 substitution did not modify the effect. There was a correlation between glucocorticoid and hair inhibiting potencies in cortisol analogues, but some progesterone analogues with low glucocorticoid activity still had significant hair inhibitory effects. No relationship was found with mineralocorticoid effects.