Accidents happen and some of the greatest developments in the human evolution have been created due to accidents. It happened again to the researchers of UCLA, Stalk Institute for Biological Studies and the Oregon Health and Science University.
The researchers have been working with mice that have been genetically engineered to produce an excess of stress hormone. They were trying to find a connection between stress and the gastrointestinal tract. The stress hormone that has been produced by the mice is known as corticotrophin-releasing factor, or CRF.
After a while the mice have lost their hair on the back due to the high level of these hormones. To make some developments in their study, the researchers of the Stalk Institute have developed a peptide called astressin-B. This was supposed to block the effects of the stress hormone. Since the first injection didn’t show any results, the researchers injected another dose.
About three months after the injection the researchers wanted to make some additional tests on the mice, but instead of their bold mice they have found some that were really hairy. They had to check the IDs of the animals to make sure that they haven’t been switched. Researchers made some follow-up researches to make sure of the results.
The interesting thing about this new method is that it has been enough to inject the mice one time a day for five days to achieve results lasting for four months. Since the mice usually live for about two years the researchers concluded that the results are long lasting.
It is a known fact that CRF may also be found in human skin, and so the researchers say that this might be an effective cure for baldness in case of humans as well. Naturally there is need for additional research in this field.
