Assessing Dihydrotestosterone-Induced Skin Alterations in C57bl/6 Mice: Implications for Androgenetic Alopecia Through High-Resolution Ultrasound Imaging Publisher



Shurche S ; Mokhtaridizaji M ; Movahedin M ; Nilforoshzade MA ; Taghiabadi E
Source: Frontiers in Biomedical Technologies Published:2025

Abstract

Purpose: There are different types of hair loss known as alopecia. Various methods for treating Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) are being investigated in the preclinical stage using C57BL/6 mice affected by this condition. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on the skin layers of male C57BL/6 mice, simulating a model of AGA using high-resolution ultrasound imaging. Materials and Methods: Seven-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were selected for the study. To induce AGA, three of the mice received intraperitoneal injections of DHT at a dosage of 1 mg per day for five consecutive days, a known method for provoking hair loss via androgenic pathways. High-resolution ultrasound imaging was performed at 40 and 75 MHz to observe changes in skin layers following DHT administration. Shear modulus and Young’s modulus were extracted using dynamic loading ultrasonography at 40 MHz. Structural imaging of both control and AGA-affected groups was performed and compared with histopathological results. Tissue samples were stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin (H&E). Results: Ultrasound imaging showed that epidermal thickness was increased in the AGA group compared with controls at both frequencies. At 40 MHz, epidermal thickness measured 0.22±0.01 mm in the control group and 0.31±0.02 mm in the AGA group, while at 75 MHz it was 0.10±0.05 mm and 0.20±0.01 mm, respectively. Dermal thickness was also greater in the AGA group. Measurements at 40 MHz were 0.30±0.02 mm for controls and 0.70±0.04 mm for the AGA group, and at 75 MHz were 0.40±0.02 mm and 0.70±0.04 mm, respectively. H&E staining confirmed increased epidermal and dermal thicknesses. Elasticity analysis revealed higher shear modulus (1.19±0.60 vs. 6.70±0.33 kPa) and Young’s modulus values (6.47±0.32 vs. 22.69±1.13 kPa) in the AGA group. Conclusion: DHT administration in the C57BL/6 mouse model induces mechanical changes in skin layers, supporting its use as an experimental AGA model. Copyright © 2026 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Noncommercial uses of the work are permitted, provided the original work is properly cited.