Hypothetical Question

[Boba155]

If you were to completely destroy permanently every androgen receptor in your hair follicles, down to the last dermal papilla cell/stem cell...

Would your hairs miniaturize?

It seems like the only way they would still miniaturize is if androgens have an INDIRECT effect on the hair follicles (i.e. S. Foote's contact inhibition, etc.)

Anyone care to comment?

 

[John979]

Castrated boys do not go bald, nor do those born with an alpha reductase deficiency.

 

[freakout]

Even if we assume direct androgen action is fact, if all androgen receptors are disabled, miniaturization will ALWAYS occur on all hair follicles with limited blood supply.

It's called atrophy when such affects other organs. When limited AND/OR intermittent, many other symptoms will emerge e.g. immune response, itchiness, dandruff, inflammation.

Studies suggesting low blood supply:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8628793
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2715645