Topical cyclosporin induces hair growth in human split skin grafted onto nude mice.

Previously we observed that systemic CyA induces hair growth in an experimental model of human scalp skin graft transplanted onto nude mice. In the present study we investigated the role of topical CyA in the murine transplantation model, using human split-thickness skin grafts (HSTSG). Ten mice grafted with 1-mm-thick skin and another 10 mice grafted with 0.4-mm-thick skin were treated topically with CyA in olive oil. Ten other mice, treated with olive oil only, served as a control group. At the end of the study we observed hair growth only on the grafted skin of the CyA-treated group. Four out of 10 grafts showed hair growth in each of the groups. Quantitative analysis of transverse sections of cylindrical punch biopsy specimens of HSTSG before transplantation revealed anagen follicles, including small ones and telogen/catagen follicles, whereas specimens after skin transplantation showed terminal follicles mostly in the anagen phase. The present study provides further support to previous observations regarding the beneficial effect of CyA on hair growth.