Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of Danshinone on androgenetic alopecia (AGA) rat model induced by dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Methods: Thirty-two Wistar male rats were randomly divided into blank control group, DHT model group, Danshinone group and finasteride group with eight rats in each group. Rats in the blank control group were not treated whilethe other 24 rats were subcutaneously injected with DHT for 5 mg/kg once a day, to establish AGA rat model. Rats in DHT model group were not intervened. Rats in the Danshinone group were given Danshinone  by gavage for 0.24 g/kg once a day for 60 days starting from the second day of modeling. Rats in the finasteride group were given finasteride for 0.12 mg/kg once a day for 60 days. The changes of the hair and histopathology of the model rats were assessed, and the level of hormones and cytokines including estradiol (E2), testosterone, DHT, α fibroblast growth factor (αFGF), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), tumor necrosis factor -α (TNF-α),transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in the serum and tissue of the rats were detected by ELISA. Results: The back hair of the rats in the DHT group were significantly thinner than that of the rats in the blank control group. The levels of TNF-α and TGF-β1 of DHT group were higher than that of blank control group (P<0.05). The back hair on the rats of Danshinone group were denser than that of the DHT group. Compared with the DHT group, the level of serum DHT in the Danshinone group was lower and the level of serum estradiol was higher (P<0.05). The level of αFGF of the tissue in Danshinone group was higher than that in DHT group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Danshinone is effective in treating AGA model rats, and the mechanism may be related to the regulation of hormone metabolism and cytokines.

Key words: androgenetic alopecia, rat model, dihydrotestosterone, Danshinone