Platelet-Rich Plasma in Combination With Minoxidil Increases Hair Growth in a Rat Model of Androgenic Alopecia

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) administered with minoxidil showed the best results for increasing hair follicles in mice experimentally induced with androgenic alopecia (AGA).

Researchers aimed to compare the efficacy of PRP and minoxidil on experimentally induced AGA using 30 adult male albino rats in a comparative histological and immunohistochemical study. A total of 5 groups were studied. Group 1 is the control group, group 2 is the AGA group that received testosterone only, group 3 received topical minoxidil, group 4 received PRP for 3 days, and group 5 received PRP and topical minoxidil.

Epidermal thickness and mean number of total hair follicles and anagen hair follicles were increased in groups 3, 4, and 5 compared with the AGA group. Telogen hair follicles decreased in these groups compared with the AGA group. The AGA group showed perifollicular fibrosis and follicular streamers and a decrease of Ki-67 positive cells. The PRP and topical minoxidil group showed the best results and the highest number of Ki-67 positive cells.

“PRP was more effective than minoxidil in treatment of experimentally induced AGA in rats. The best results were obtained when PRP and minoxidil were administered together,” concluded the study authors.

Reference
Elsebay SAG, Nada HF, Sultan NSS, El-Waseef DAEA. Comparative histological and immunohistochemical study on the effect of platelet rich plasma/minoxidil, alone or in combination, on hair growth in a rat model of androgenic alopecia. Tissue Cell. 2022;75:101726. doi:10.1016/j.tice.2021.101726