Various parameters of hair growth were determined every 28 days for 18 months in 14 healthy Caucasian men aged 18-39 with indoor occupations in Sheffield, U.K. (latitude 53.4 degrees N). In the scalp the proportion of follicles in anagen reached a single peak of over 90% in March, and fell steadily to a trough in September. The number of shed hairs reached a peak around August/September, when least follicles were in anagen. At this time the average loss of hairs was about 60 per day, more than double that during the preceding winter. The rate of growth of the beard was lowest in January and February and increased steadily from March to July to reach a peak about 60% above the winter level. The rate of growth of thigh hair showed a similar pattern though with less pronounced differences. No seasonal fluctuations in finger- or toenail growth were detected.

The effects of combined treatment with the antiandrogen, cyproterone acetate, and ethinyl oestradiol on four women with long-standing hidradenitis suppurativa have been investigated. The condition was controlled successfully in all patients with 100 mg/day cyproterone acetate using the reversed sequential regimen; lowering the antiandrogen to 50 mg/day caused deterioration. Before treatment, plasma testosterone levels were within the normal range, but plasma androstenedione values were raised and sex hormone binding globulin levels were low. On treatment, the androstenedione concentration fell and sex hormone-binding globulin values were raised. However, since these levels were unaltered by reducing the antiandrogen dosage, the main action of the therapy is probably that of the antiandrogen within the target cells.

SUMMARY 1. Castration of male albino rats, aged 30 weeks at death, caused reduction in volume of the sebaceous glands by diminishing the size of the cells and their rate of proliferation. Cell life or 'turnover time' appeared to be increased. 2. Implantation of testosterone in castrated rats increased the volume of the glands by increasing the size of the cells and their rate of proliferation; at the same time cell life was reduced. 3. Testosterone had no effect on the size of the sebaceous glands in hypophysectomized castrated rats. 4. Nevertheless, in hypophysectomized castrated animals treated with testosterone there appeared to be larger sebaceous cells than in similar untreated animals, and a higher rate of cell proliferation in the sebaceous glands than in untreated castrated rats. The explanation of this anomaly may be that in all hypophysectomized castrated animals, and particularly in those treated with testosterone, cell life was very short. These results suggest that the pituitary does not exert a clear-cut, 'all or none' effect but rather facilitates the full action of testosterone on the sebaceous gland. 5. Testosterone increased the rate of cell proliferation in the epidermis of castrated rats, but this did not affect the thickness of the Malpighian layer. 6. Hypophysectomy of castrated rats significantly increased the thickness of the Malpighian layer, and this appeared to be due to an increased rate of cell proliferation over that of castrated rats rather than to an increase in the length of cell life. Testosterone did not reduce epidermal thickness in these animals.

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