Is the Comb Over Dying? A Mouse Model for Male Pattern Baldness (Androgenic Alopecia)

The document from May 01, 2010, describes the creation of a transgenic mouse model to study androgenic alopecia (AGA), or male pattern baldness. The model is designed to mimic the human condition by expressing human androgen receptor (AR) in hair follicles, making them more sensitive to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The study suggests that AGA may be caused by increased activity of the enzyme 5a-reductase, which converts testosterone to DHT, and elevated AR levels in hair follicles, potentially disrupting ß-catenin signaling pathways important for hair growth. This mouse model is intended to facilitate further research into the molecular mechanisms of AGA, the testing of new treatments, and the understanding of how minoxidil, a hair growth medication, works.