Abstract: A thick three-dimensional culture skin sheet is provided. The invention provides a three-dimensional culture skin sheet comprising at least epidermal cells and having concavoconvexities in at least one portion of the base section. The invention further provides a cell culturing vessel to be used for production of the three-dimensional culture skin sheet, having on at least one portion of the culture surface a porous film comprising convex sections for formation of concavoconvexities in the base section of the three-dimensional culture skin sheet. The invention still further provides a method for preparing a three-dimensional culture skin sheet using the cell culturing vessel.

Abstract: A method for increasing oxytocin release through direct action on the epidermal keratinocytes is provided. The method for increasing oxytocin release in the epidermis includes increasing the calcium ion concentration in the epidermal cells. In the method of the present invention, the increase of the calcium ion concentration in the epidermal cells may be achieved by physically stimulating the skin. The physical stimulation may be achieved by applying a heat stimulus and/or a massage. The increase of the calcium ion concentration in the epidermal cells may be achieved by stimulating the epidermal cells by at least one agent selected from the group consisting of ATP, UTP, 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: A novel skin barrier function recovery acceleration method and accelerator are provided. The present invention provides a skin barrier function recovery accelerator that comprises a TRPA1 agonist capable of activating TRPA1 in epidermal cells.

Abstract: A method for increasing oxytocin release through direct action on the epidermal keratinocytes is provided. The method for increasing oxytocin release in the epidermis includes increasing the calcium ion concentration in the epidermal cells. In the method of the present invention, the increase of the calcium ion concentration in the epidermal cells may be achieved by physically stimulating the skin. The physical stimulation may be achieved by applying a heat stimulus and/or a massage. The increase of the calcium ion concentration in the epidermal cells may be achieved by stimulating the epidermal cells by at least one agent selected from the group consisting of ATP, UTP, 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: There is provided a hair tonic comprising at least two of an inhibitor against 5? reductase type 2, an inhibitor against transforming growth factor ?2, and an inhibitor against caspase-3; a method comprising screening for at least two of inhibition against 5? reductase type 2, inhibition against transforming growth factor ?2, and inhibition against caspase-3, or comprising screening for inhibition against caspase-3 and then for apoptosis inhibition, and a hair loss inhibitor having the effect of inhibiting caspase-3, and a hair loss inhibitor having the effect of inhibiting caspase-3 and of inhibiting apoptosis.

Abstract: There is provided a hair tonic comprising at least two of an inhibitor against 5? reductase type 2, an inhibitor against transforming growth factor ?2, and an inhibitor against caspase-3; a method comprising screening for at least two of inhibition against 5? reductase type 2, inhibition against transforming growth factor ?2, and inhibition against caspase-3, or comprising screening for inhibition against caspase-3 and then for apoptosis inhibition, and a hair loss inhibitor having the effect of inhibiting caspase-3, and a hair loss inhibitor having the effect of inhibiting caspase-3 and of inhibiting apoptosis.

Abstract: As a result of studies on a noxious stimulation receptor, it is found out that this stimulation receptor exists in epidermal cells, etc. and changes are observed in intracellular calcium ion concentration depending on the state of this stimulation receptor. The present invention provides a method of detecting a skin stimulation effect based on the relation between the skin stimulation effect of a test substance which is in contact with epithelial cells such as epidermal cells and an increase/decrease in intracellular calcium ion concentration in the epithelial cells.

Abstract: There is provided a hair tonic comprising at least two of an inhibitor against 5&agr; reductase type 2, an inhibitor against transforming growth factor &bgr;2, and an inhibitor against caspase-3; a method comprising screening for at least two of inhibition against 5&agr; reductase type 2, inhibition against transforming growth factor &bgr;2, and inhibition against caspase-3, or comprising screening for inhibition against caspase-3 and then for apoptosis inhibition, and a hair loss inhibitor having the effect of inhibiting caspase-3, and a hair loss inhibitor having the effect of inhibiting caspase-3 and of inhibiting apoptosis.