In Vivo Model Development for Alopecia

Protheragen offers a comprehensive in vivo animal model development service specifically tailored for Alopecia research. Our platform leverages a diverse array of well-characterized rodent and large animal models to support the preclinical evaluation of novel therapeutics targeting hair loss disorders. With extensive expertise in model selection, development, and validation, we provide end-to-end solutions to accelerate your Alopecia research and drug discovery programs.

Alopecia, or hair loss, affects millions worldwide and can result from various etiologies including autoimmune, hormonal, chemical, and physical factors. Robust animal models are essential for understanding Alopecia pathogenesis and for evaluating the efficacy and safety of candidate therapies prior to clinical translation. Protheragen employs a broad spectrum of species and strains—including Mus musculus (mouse; e.g., C57BL/6, C3H, Balb/c, Kunming, Beige, Nude, and others), Rattus norvegicus (Sprague Dawley rat), and Sus scrofa (pig)—to recapitulate distinct forms of human hair loss. These models enable the study of androgenic, immune-mediated, chemically-induced, and wound-related Alopecia, providing invaluable insights into disease mechanisms and therapeutic intervention strategies.

Chemically-Induced Models

Chemically-induced Alopecia models involve the topical or systemic administration of agents such as testosterone propionate, androstanolone, cyclophosphamide, t-BuOOH, or hair depilation creams to provoke hair loss. These models utilize various mouse strains (e.g., C57BL/6, Balb/c, Kunming) and rats (Sprague Dawley) to mimic androgenic or toxicant-induced Alopecia. Advantages include rapid induction, reproducibility, and the ability to model specific pathological mechanisms, such as androgenic or chemotherapy-related hair loss. Primary applications encompass drug efficacy screening, mechanistic studies of hair regrowth, and safety assessment of anti-Alopecia compounds.

Physical and Injury-Induced Models

Physical models of Alopecia are established by procedures such as shaving, wax or cream depilation, or full-thickness skin excision to induce localized hair loss. These methods are applied across several mouse strains (e.g., C3H, C57BL/6, Kunming, and pigs) and are highly controllable in terms of timing and area affected. Key advantages include simplicity, minimal systemic effects, and suitability for studying hair cycle dynamics, follicle regeneration, and wound-induced hair growth. These models are ideal for evaluating topical agents, wound healing therapies, and studying the biology of hair follicle regeneration.

Xenograft and Immune-Deficient Models

Xenograft models involve transplantation of human or mouse hair follicles, skin, or immune cells onto immunodeficient mice (e.g., Beige, Nude, SCID strains). These models allow the study of human-specific hair biology, immune-mediated Alopecia (such as alopecia areata), and cell-based therapies. The immunodeficient background prevents graft rejection, enabling long-term engraftment and evaluation of human tissue responses. Key advantages include high translational relevance, the ability to test human-targeted therapies, and modeling of complex immune interactions. Applications include preclinical testing of biologics, cell therapies, and mechanistic studies of immune-mediated hair loss.

Protheragen provides a full-spectrum Alopecia animal model service, from model selection and induction to comprehensive efficacy and safety assessment. Our offerings include customized model development using a wide range of species and strains, precise induction protocols (chemical, physical, or xenograft), and rigorous endpoint analysis. Key efficacy endpoints include hair regrowth quantification (phototrichogram, macroscopic scoring), follicle density and cycling (histology, immunohistochemistry), inflammatory and immune cell infiltration (flow cytometry, immunostaining), and molecular profiling (qPCR, ELISA, RNA-seq). Analytical capabilities extend to pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and biomarker discovery. All studies are conducted under stringent quality control, with standardized protocols, ethical compliance, and reproducible data generation to ensure scientific validity and regulatory acceptance.

By partnering with Protheragen, you gain access to a robust, multidisciplinary team dedicated to advancing Alopecia research through scientifically rigorous and customizable in vivo modeling solutions. Our commitment to quality, innovation, and client collaboration ensures that your preclinical programs are supported by the most relevant and predictive animal models. Contact us today to discuss your project needs and accelerate the development of next-generation Alopecia therapies.