Hair loss and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis activity in captive rhesus macaques

J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2014 May;53(3):261-6.
Hair loss and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis activity in captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).
Novak MA1, Hamel AF2, Coleman K3, Lutz CK4, Worlein J5, Menard M6, Ryan A2, Rosenberg K6, Meyer JS7.

Hair loss is a common problem in captive macaque colonies. A potential factor is the possible influence of stressful environments in the development of hair loss. We examined the relationship between hair loss and chronic hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity by measuring cortisol in hair. Adult male and female rhesus macaques housed at 3 primate facilities in the United States were screened for degree of hair loss and observed for evidence of hair-plucking behavior. Hair samples and photographic data were obtained from 99 subjects, none of which were hair-pluckers. Macaques with greater than 30% hair loss (alopecia group) showed higher concentrations of hair cortisol than did those with less than 5% hair loss (control group), a finding that was unrelated to age, body weight, or the month in which the sample was collected. Hair loss scores were positively correlated with hair cortisol levels across all monkeys and within the alopecic group alone. In addition, the strong relationship between hair cortisol and alopecia was noted in 2 but not the third facility. Friction with cage surfaces appeared to contribute to hair loss in 18 monkeys. These findings suggest that stress may be one of several factors related to hair loss in some captive nonhuman primates, although whether this relationship is causal or merely correlational is unclear. Moreover, the source of the additional cortisol in the hair of alopecic monkeys (that is, from the circulation or from local synthesis in the skin) remains to be determined.

To me this is association has been crystal clear, however for those who demand proof here it is.

In order to have vital hair, one needs a high testosterone, low cortisol ratio (without a low SHBG).

Nice. Thanks Brian.

Second, Danny. Good post Caustic.

I realize it wasn't in the scope of the posted study, but I'd be very interested to know how cortisol levels associated with social stress contribute to male pattern hair loss. If there is one phenomenon that I believe might substantiate more levels of MPB today than a century ago, it would be the increase in social stress typically felt by the average person today.

Danny, the avatar photo is way too polished .

My parents seemed to grow up during the "golden age" back in the 50's and 60's when technologically things seemed to be less stressful than they are today.

Long before the fax machines, instant message, iPhones, Samsungs, voicemails, ultra high demand work productivity.

These days I have to put my phone on silent just to sure I can get a decent sleep without interruption.

Then I've got to pop a melatonin to be sure my Wi-fi won't alter my circadian rhythms.

The fight or flight system (adrenal output) was supposed to be a life saver -- keeping us alter in case of a threat....however something as simple as an email contents could set the same alarms off.

Here's an interesting study, related to cortisol and hair.

http://press.endocrine.org/doi/abs/10.1210/en.2012-1226?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3Dpubmed&

CS how would high cortisol levels in hair follicles relate to the other mpb studies which show low zinc serum levels in hair follicles of balding scalps and the Indian study with mpb sufferes showing signs of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome?

CausticSymmetry wrote:J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2014 May;53(3):261-6.
Hair loss and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis activity in captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).
Novak MA1, Hamel AF2, Coleman K3, Lutz CK4, Worlein J5, Menard M6, Ryan A2, Rosenberg K6, Meyer JS7.

Hair loss is a common problem in captive macaque colonies. A potential factor is the possible influence of stressful environments in the development of hair loss. We examined the relationship between hair loss and chronic hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity by measuring cortisol in hair. Adult male and female rhesus macaques housed at 3 primate facilities in the United States were screened for degree of hair loss and observed for evidence of hair-plucking behavior. Hair samples and photographic data were obtained from 99 subjects, none of which were hair-pluckers. Macaques with greater than 30% hair loss (alopecia group) showed higher concentrations of hair cortisol than did those with less than 5% hair loss (control group), a finding that was unrelated to age, body weight, or the month in which the sample was collected. Hair loss scores were positively correlated with hair cortisol levels across all monkeys and within the alopecic group alone. In addition, the strong relationship between hair cortisol and alopecia was noted in 2 but not the third facility. Friction with cage surfaces appeared to contribute to hair loss in 18 monkeys. These findings suggest that stress may be one of several factors related to hair loss in some captive nonhuman primates, although whether this relationship is causal or merely correlational is unclear. Moreover, the source of the additional cortisol in the hair of alopecic monkeys (that is, from the circulation or from local synthesis in the skin) remains to be determined.

To me this is association has been crystal clear, however for those who demand proof here it is.

In order to have vital hair, one needs a high testosterone, low cortisol ratio (without a low SHBG).

Hi CS

Can you explain the '(without a low SHBG)' bit? Is high SHBG the optimal profile, and if so, why?

Kazbar wrote:CS how would high cortisol levels in hair follicles relate to the other mpb studies which show low zinc serum levels in hair follicles of balding scalps and the Indian study with mpb sufferes showing signs of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome?

Here's the full study:

http://press.endocrine.org/doi/full/10.1210/en.2012-1226

The problem with mineral tests in serum is that they cannot be be assessed properly.

However, the main idea with any form of insulin resistance is, when short on resources, cortisol can be made preferentially over progesterone. progesterone itself protects against stress (its metabolites do) and also protect against elevation of 5-AR.

Zinc will favor progesterone, while copper will favor estrogen receptors.

averagejoe001 - One of the reasons why chemical castration (i.e, finasteride) is not too effective after the mid-20's is because SHBG levels start to climb as estrogen increases also in kind elevate SHBG.

However in the late teens to early 20's SHBG are low in MPB. This allows a lot of free testosterone, which freely converts to DHT in target tissues.

There are ways to reduce the effect of SHBG (from being too low). Generally insulin resistance/thyroid imbalances can be behind this. During adolescence low SHBG is common, because due to growth there is a transient insulin resistance.

CausticSymmetry wrote:averagejoe001 - One of the reasons why chemical castration (i.e, finasteride) is not too effective after the mid-20's is because SHBG levels start to climb as estrogen increases also in kind elevate SHBG.

However in the late teens to early 20's SHBG are low in MPB. This allows a lot of free testosterone, which freely converts to DHT in target tissues.

There are ways to reduce the effect of SHBG (from being too low). Generally insulin resistance/thyroid imbalances can be behind this. During adolescence low SHBG is common, because due to growth there is a transient insulin resistance.

Thanks for that - just so I understand, for mid to late 30's, you would ideally want to have higher free test, so lower SHBG? Or have I got it the wrong way around?

averagejoe001 wrote:

CausticSymmetry wrote:averagejoe001 - One of the reasons why chemical castration (i.e, finasteride) is not too effective after the mid-20's is because SHBG levels start to climb as estrogen increases also in kind elevate SHBG.

However in the late teens to early 20's SHBG are low in MPB. This allows a lot of free testosterone, which freely converts to DHT in target tissues.

There are ways to reduce the effect of SHBG (from being too low). Generally insulin resistance/thyroid imbalances can be behind this. During adolescence low SHBG is common, because due to growth there is a transient insulin resistance.

Thanks for that - just so I understand, for mid to late 30's, you would ideally want to have higher free test, so lower SHBG? Or have I got it the wrong way around?

For the most part, a low SHBG is not too common in the 30's (however, I've seen exceptions), although usually that is because of testosterone treatments.

So the real key is to have a high testosterone level to low cortisol ratio.

One of the best ways to keep this ratio is to remove inflammation and reduce toxic metals.