Skin Pharmacol. 1993;6:170
Potassium channel openers and whole hair follicle cultures.
Harmon CS, Lutz D, Ducote J.
(edited for hair loss blog)
snip.. the extent of stimulation of epidermal keratinocyte DNA synthesis by minoxidil increased as the rate of DNA synthesis in control cultures declined. Minoxidil stimulation of DNA synthesis in cultures required prolonged exposure to the hair growth agent. Pinacidil and diazoxide also stimulated DNA synthesis in mouse epidermal keratinocyte cultures. In addition, minoxidil, pinacidil, diazoxide, and cromakalim stimulated DNA synthesis in whole-organ cultures of mouse hair follicles. That is, K-channel openers retard the loss of proliferative activity of differentiating keratinocytes. This supports the hypothesis that these agents stimulate hair regrowth through a direct effect on hair follicles.