Summary
Hair samples were obtained from rats rendered hypothyroidin utero, when these animals reached 35 days of post-gestational age. The hairs were examined by scanning electron microscopy at a point on the shaft 340 μ from the bulb. All hairs, in the anagen phase, when compared, indicated that cretin rats had thinner hair shafts, more closely spaced cuticle, cells, and more cuticle cells per unit of hair shaft. The surfaces of hairs from cretin rats were cornal, acuminated, and had dentate margins. It is therefore apparent that congenital hypothyroidism in rats affects the density, thickness, and surface characteristics of the hair.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arslan S. H., Mackenzie C. P., Brown R., Baxter J. T.: The phase of hair growth in hypothyroidism in the dog—Vet. Res. Commun.6, 51, 1983.
Berger H. M., King J., Doughty S., Wharton B. A.: Intrauterine nutrition and babies’ hair —Lancetii, 1145, 1975.
Bradfield R. B., Lechtig A., Allen L., Quevedo C.: Maternal hair-roots in prediction of low-birth-weight risk—Lancetii, 928, 1975.
DeGroot L. J., Stanbury J. B.: The thyroid and its diseases. John Wiley and Sons. New York, 1975; 4th ed., p. 484.
Essman W. B., Mendoza L. A., Hamburch M.: Critical periods of maze acquistion development in euthyroid and hypothyroid rodents—Psychol. Rep.23, 795, 1968.
Freinkel R. K., Freinkel N.: Hair growth and alopecia in hypothyroidism—Arch. Dermatol.106, 349, 1972.
Mohn M. P.: The effects of different hormonal states on the growth of hair in rats. In:Montagna W., Ellis R. A. (Eds.) Biology of hair growth. Academic Press, New York, 1958; p. 335.
Montacna W., Parakkal P. F.: The structure and function of skin. Academic Press, New York, 1974; chapt 7, p. 172.
Rall J. E.: Clinical diagnosis of thyroid disease. In:Rall J. E. (Ed.): Methods in investigatory and diagnostic endocrinology. Part I. The thyroid. North-Holland Publ. Co., Amsterdam, 1972; chapt. 16. p. 293.
Rall, J. E., Sterling K., Gharid H., Mayberry W. E.: Thyroid hormone analyses. In:Rall J. E. (Ed.): Methods in investigatory and diagnostic endocrinology. Part I. The thyroid. North-Holland Publ. Co., Amsterdam, 1972: chapt. 12, p. 205.
Smith J. G., Weinstein G. D., Burr J. M.: Hair roots of the human scalp in thyroid disease— J. invest. Dermatol.32, 35, 1959.
Vigouroux E., Rostaqui N.: Particular aspects of thyroid function development in the postnatal rat with special reference to interrelationships between mother and young—Reprod. Nutr. Develop.20, 209, 1980.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Essman, E.J. Alterations in hair shaft morphology in the cretin rat. La Ricerca Clin. Lab. 14, 657–661 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02906306
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02906306