Immunohistochemical and Autoradiographic Findings Suggest Minoxidil Is Not Localized in Specific Cells of Vibrissa, Pelage, or Scalp Follicles

    January 1990 in “ Cell and Tissue Research ”
    B. V. Zelei, C J Walker, Geri A. Sawada, Thomas T. Kawabe, Karen A. Knight, Ann Buhl, George Johnson, A. R. Diani
    TLDR Minoxidil does not specifically target any hair follicle cells.
    The study investigated the localization of minoxidil in hair follicles using immunohistochemistry and autoradiography. It was found that minoxidil-immunoreactivity was associated with certain cells in cultured vibrissa follicles of neonatal mice, but this was likely non-specific. Further tests showed minoxidil-immunoreactivity in various tissues, including non-haired organs, suggesting non-specific binding. In vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that tritiated minoxidil bound only to melanin granules in pigmented follicles, which was also considered non-specific due to melanin's known ability to accumulate various drugs. The study concluded that minoxidil was not specifically localized in any cells of whisker, pelage, or scalp follicles under the experimental conditions.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    7 / 7 results

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 1000+ results

      community RU and cetosomal minoxidil topical

      in Minoxidil  1 upvotes 2 days ago
      Mixing RU58841 with cetosomal minoxidil is discussed due to scalp irritation from ethanol PG vehicles. A mixture of the two turned bright pink when left to dry.

      community Chest pain on Oral minoxidil (18M)

      in Minoxidil  38 upvotes 4 days ago
      An 18-year-old experienced chest pain, headaches, and vomiting after taking oral minoxidil for hair loss. They reduced the dosage, felt better, but experienced sharp chest pain again after increasing it, and are advised to stop the medication and see a doctor.

      community Extreme shedding after ~1 year on 5% topical minoxidil — normal or problem?

      in Minoxidil  3 upvotes 1 week ago
      A 17-year-old using 5% topical minoxidil experienced significant hair shedding after a year, possibly due to a "synchronization shed" and deficiencies in vitamin D and iron. Recommendations include continuing minoxidil, optimizing vitamin D and iron levels, and reducing tretinoin use if scalp irritation occurs.

      community Counterfeit Kirkland minoxidil warning

      in Minoxidil  165 upvotes 1 week ago
      Counterfeit Kirkland minoxidil is being sold online, leading to ineffective hair loss treatment. Users are advised to purchase from reputable sources like Costco to avoid fake products.

      community Do you think oral minoxidil will become the standard for hair loss in 2026?

      in Minoxidil  142 upvotes 2 weeks ago
      Oral minoxidil is considered more convenient and effective for some users, with positive results reported, but concerns about side effects and availability persist. Finasteride remains a standard treatment, while some users explore combinations with other treatments like dutasteride and laser devices.

    Related Research

    2 / 2 results