Eur J Dermatol. 2001 May-Jun;11(3):195-8.
Niiyama S, Happle R, Hoffmann R.
he molecular pathways involved in estrogen-mediated induction of hair regrowth in androgenetic alopecia or male pattern hair loss are unknown. Some authors found that estradiol (E) inhibited 5alpha-reductase (5alpha-R) activity and therefore we addressed the question whether 17alpha- or 17beta-E are able to modulate the activity of 5alpha-R, 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) or 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in human hair follicles. For this purpose, scalp biopsies from volunteers were taken and from each biopsy root sheaths, connective tissue sheaths and dermal papillae were dissected and incubated in the presence of 3H-testosterone and, in addition, either 17alpha-E, 17beta-E, progesterone or finasteride for up to 48 hrs. Thereafter high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of culture supernatants was performed to detect T-metabolites.