TLDR Mouse skin color ranges from pink to black, depending on their hair growth cycle.
The document examined the skin color of adult female mice from various inbred strains with different coat colors to understand the relationship between hair color, hair growth cycle, and skin pigmentation. The mice, which included strains like BALB/cJ, C3H/HeJ, C57BL/6J, B6.Cg-Tyr-J/J, and DBA/1J, were euthanized, shaved, and their skin was analyzed. The findings revealed that mouse skin color can vary from pink to grey or black, heavily influenced by the stage of the hair cycle, with the most pigmentation during mid- to late anagen phase and minimal to none during telogen phase. This study highlighted the necessity of comprehending the normal hair cycle and skin anatomy in mice for accurate interpretation of skin and hair biology research, which is vital for studies on hair growth and alopecia.
56 citations
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December 2007 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Mice hair growth patterns get more complex with age and can change with events like pregnancy or injury.
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October 1999 in “Experimental and Molecular Pathology” Stump-tailed macaque best for researching hair loss causes and treatments.
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January 1954 in “Physiological Reviews” Hair growth is cyclic and influenced mainly by local factors.
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November 2022 in “Protein & Cell” Quercetin significantly helps hair growth by activating hair follicles and improving blood vessel formation around them.
January 2025 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)” Rhamnose may help hair growth and pigmentation, making it a potential treatment for hair loss.
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August 2015 in “Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry” Obese mice with a leptin gene mutation have a longer resting phase in their hair cycle, which may help understand certain hair loss conditions.
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May 2009 in “Journal of Ethnopharmacology” Eclipta alba extract may help hair grow similarly to Minoxidil.
August 2025 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” Broccoli sprout extract may help regrow hair by improving hormone metabolism.
December 2023 in “Journal of Food Science and Nutrition” Rosehip Seed Oil may help hair grow by activating important growth pathways and increasing hair follicle size in mice.
