Hair Loss And Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical Axis Activity In Captive Rhesus Macaques (Macaca Mulatta)

May 2014 in “ PubMed ”

Melinda A. Novak, Amanda F. Hamel, Kris Coleman, Corrine K. Lutz, Julie M. Worlein, Mark T. Menard, A. Ryan, Kendra Rosenberg, Jerrold S. Meyer

hair loss hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis HPA axis hair cortisol cortisol alopecia stress-related hair loss

TLDR Higher stress levels may be linked to hair loss in rhesus macaques.

The study investigated the relationship between hair loss and chronic hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity in 99 captive rhesus macaques by measuring cortisol levels in hair. It was found that macaques with more than 30% hair loss had higher hair cortisol concentrations compared to those with less than 5% hair loss. This correlation was consistent across all monkeys and within the alopecic group, although it was significant in only 2 of the 3 facilities studied. The study suggested that stress might be a factor in hair loss among captive macaques, but it was unclear if the relationship was causal or correlational. Additionally, the source of increased cortisol in the hair of alopecic monkeys was not determined. Friction with cage surfaces also contributed to hair loss in 18 monkeys.

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Hair Loss And Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical Axis Activity In Captive Rhesus Macaques (Macaca Mulatta)

Research cited in this study

research Alopecia in Three Macaque Species Housed in a Laboratory Environment

research Localization, Age- and Site-Dependent Expression, and Regulation of 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 in Skin

research Heat Treatment Increases the Incidence of Alopecia Areata in the C3H/HeJ Mouse Model

research Alopecia in Rhesus Macaques Correlates with Immunophenotypic Alterations in Dermal Inflammatory Infiltrates Consistent with Hypersensitivity Etiology

research Alopecia: Possible Causes and Treatments, Particularly in Captive Nonhuman Primates

research Pressure Alopecia from Orthodontic Headgear

research Foot Shock Stress Prolongs the Telogen Stage of the Spontaneous Hair Cycle in a Non-Depilated Mouse Model

research Coat Condition, Housing Condition, And Measurement Of Fecal Cortisol Metabolites: A Non-Invasive Study About Alopecia In Captive Rhesus Macaques (Macaca Mulatta)

research Human Hair Follicles Display a Functional Equivalent of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis and Synthesize Cortisol

research Seasonal and Social Correlates of Changes in Hair, Skin, and Scrotal Condition in Vervet Monkeys (Cercopithecus Aethiops) of Amboseli National Park, Kenya

research Zinc Deficiency in Rhesus and Bonnet Monkeys, Including Effects on Reproduction

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