Alopecia, or hair loss, is a common problem in all mammalian species, not just humans. Therefore, it is logical that other mammals should have diseases similar to those that cause alopecia in humans. This is true for some human diseases such as papular atrichia (the hairless, hr, mutation in the mouse) [1] and alopecia areata (the same disease in mice and other mammals) [2]. The most common form of alopecia in humans is androgenetic alopecia (also called male pattern or just pattern baldness), a disease that affects approximately 80% of men and 40% of women 20+ years of age traction or traumatic alopecia bald treatments [3]. Because of the obvious sexual dimorphism in humans, it is logical to look at other mammalian species in which a similar pattern of hair or adnexal structure loss with age is a feature, especially when it affects only one sex. One of the early models proposed was the pattern of feather loss in starlings [4]. This simple observation opened the concept of sexual differences in the plumage of many species of birds and how development (or lack) of feathers for improved mating might correlate to changes in humans (male pattern hair loss), commonly considered to have an adverse effect. antidepressants alopecia bald treatments Review of the literature [5] and recent experiments with numerous laboratory mouse strains reveal that androgens have a potent effect on hair biology. Some of these spontaneous or genetically engineered mouse models may be useful to test the effects on hair promotion or blockade of androgenic effects. A summary of the currently available models is presented here with some details on how they are or can be used. Spontaneous androgenetic alopecia in humans Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most commonly recognized form of non-scarring alopecia in humans and is known by a number of descriptive terms such as inherited baldness propecia prices bald treatments (alopecia), male
