Prior
studies with animals suggested that another function of the drug is to turn on the
genes for
elastin (a protein found in elastic fibers) and other elastic fiber
genes, such as Fbn - 1 and Lox, causing
elastin deposits within the blood vessel wall.
Gene studies revealed that minoxidil revs up not only
elastin and elastic fiber
genes but also more than 100 other
genes related to blood vessel structure.