Doxorubicin-induced hair loss in the Angora rabbit: a study of treatments to protect against the hair loss.

An animal model for anticancer drug-induced hair loss has been developed using the Angora rabbit given i.v. doxorubicin, 2 mg/kg, twice weekly for 3 weeks. There was a 167% increase in the weight of hair collected by grooming between weeks 2 and 5, and a 72% inhibition of new hair growth at week 6 compared with non-treated animals. The hairs that grew in the doxorubicin treated rabbits did so at the same rate as in non-treated rabbits and appeared normal by light microscopy. Topical application of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), of 10% alpha-tocopherol in DMSO, of 0.5% naphthazoline hydrochloride in DMSO, of 0.1% fluocinolone acetonide in a propylene glycol base and local hypothermia did not provide any protection against doxorubicin-induced hair loss. Angora rabbits fed an alpha-tocopherol-deficient diet for 6 weeks showed decreased hair growth compared with animals fed a normal diet or a diet supplemented with 100 mg alpha-tocopherol acetate twice a week for 6 weeks. Some rabbits fed the alpha-tocopherol-deficient diet died when given doxorubicin. Rabbits fed the alpha-tocopherol-supplemented diet showed evidence of protection against doxorubicin-dependent inhibition of new hair growth.