'Damage is permanent'
Pain in mice triggered the release of adrenaline and cortisol, making their hearts beat faster and blood pressure rise, affecting the nervous system and causing acute stress. This process then sped up the depletion of stem cells that produced melanin in hair follicles. "I expected stress was bad for the body," said Prof Hsu. "But the detrimental impact of stress that we discovered was beyond what I imagined. "After just a few days, all of the pigment-regenerating stem cells were lost. "Once they're gone, you can't regenerate pigment any more - the damage is permanent." The mouse before pain was induced (top) and some time afterwards (bottom image) In another experiment, the researchers found they could block the changes by giving the mice an anti-hypertensive, which treats high blood pressure. And by comparing the genes of mice in pain with other mice, they could identify the protein involved in causing damage to stem cells from stress. When this protein - cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) - was suppressed, the treatment also prevented a change in the colour of their fur. This leaves the door open for scientists to help delay the onset of grey hair by targeting CDK with a drug. "These findings are not a cure or treatment for grey hair," Prof Hsu told the BBC. "Our discovery, made in mice, is only the beginning of a long journey to finding an intervention for people. "It also gives us an idea of how stress might affect many other parts of the body," she said.DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Man remanded for uploading nude videos of a lady he lured into a relationship
5 hours -
Explainer: What is the Cash Waterfall Mechanism?
5 hours -
Survivors of child trafficking overcome adversity, excel in tertiary education
6 hours -
Confront the barriers to your progress – Professor Lydia Aziato challenges the youth
6 hours -
Expertise France leads EU-funded initiative empowering African Journalists to combat human trafficking
6 hours -
Ghana Grows Programme empowers Ghanaian youth through Youth Policy Dialogue
6 hours -
Eastern NDC raises GHS5.4m to support Mahama’s 2024 campaign
7 hours -
Kumawood actress Akyere Bruwaa condemns death rumours
7 hours -
Ghana Institution of Engineering calls for proactive measures to prevent flood disaster
7 hours -
Who pays for the extra cost? – COCOBOD CEO questions EU on new regulations
7 hours -
‘Dumsor’ will be over by end of May – Former NPP MP assures
7 hours -
Power crisis is not about money – NPP Manifesto Committee member
7 hours -
Education Minister urges graduates to embrace opportunities
7 hours -
UN rights chief ‘horrified’ by mass grave reports at Gaza hospitals
8 hours -
We need more resources to deal with flooding – NADMO
8 hours