In the current study, effects of oral
phenytoin on hair growth in
cyclophosphamide-treated rats were assessed with the goal of evaluating the ability of
phenytoin to suppress
chemotherapy-induced
hair loss. Thirty-six rats were randomly assigned to six groups (1k6) of six each (n=6). In all groups, anagen was induced in flank skin of rats by
depilation. On day 9 (anagen VI), rats were injected once with either distilled water (groups 1-3) or cyclophoshamide (groups 4-6). From day 10, rats in group 1 and 4 received oral vehicle (distilled water), groups 2 and 5 received oral
phenytoin (50mg/kg), while groups 3 and 6 also received oral
phenytoin (100mg/kg).
Drug or vehicle was administered daily for a period of 28days. The flank area was serially photographed. At the end of the experimental period, rats were sacrificed to correlate visible hair growth with a histological profile of follicle response and recovery.
Glutathione (GSH),
glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and lipid peroxidation status were assessed.
Cyclophosphamide (CYP) treatment was associated with gross morphologic and histological evidence of
hair loss in the flanks, microscopic evidence of hair-shaft thinning, increased skin lipid peroxidation, decreased GSH level, and reduction in GPX activities.
Phenytoin co-administration was associated with evidence of improved hair growth, increased hair-shaft thickness, reduced skin lipid peroxidation, increased GSH level, and increased GPX activities. This study showed that oral
phenytoin can suppress
hair loss due to CYP
therapy in rats; however, further studies are needed to evaluate its potential application in
chemotherapy-induced
alopecia.