Inhibition of Polyamine Synthesis Alters Hair Follicle Function and Fiber Composition

The study investigated the role of polyamines in hair follicle function and fiber composition in sheep. It found that inhibiting ornithine decarboxylase with alpha difluoromethylornithine altered fiber characteristics but did not inhibit wool follicle growth in culture. Conversely, inhibiting S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase with methylglyoxal (bis)guanylhydrazone completely inhibited fiber growth, which could be reversed by adding spermidine, but not spermine. The study concluded that polyamines, particularly spermidine, were crucial for hair growth, as evidenced by the ability of spermidine to partially counteract growth depression in methionine-deficient conditions.