Minoxidil-d₁₀contains 10 deuterium atoms on the piperidine ring. It is intended for use as an internal standard for the quantification of minoxidil by GC- or LC-mass spectrometry. Minoxidil is a pyrimidine derivative that was originally developed as an anti-hypertensive agent and unexpectedly found to stimulate hair growth. Minoxidil directly affects arteriolar smooth muscle to decrease vascular resistance in part by opening ATP-sensitive potassium channels.^1,2It can activate cyclooxygenase 1 (AC₅₀= 80 μM), which is expressed in the dermal papilla of hair follicles, increasing prostaglandin E₂production in BALB/c 3T3 fibroblasts and human dermal papilla fibroblasts.³

1.Limas, C.J., and Cohn, J.N.Stimulation of vascular smooth muscle sodium, potassium--adenosinetriphosphatase by vasodilatorsCirculation Research35(4)601-607(1974) 2.Imenshahidi, M., Hadizadeh, F., Firoozeh-Moghadam, A., et al.Synthesis and vasorelaxant effect of 9-aryl-1,8-acridinediones as potassium channel openers in isolated rat aortaIran.J.Pharm.Res.11(1)229-233(2012) 3.Michelet, J.F., Commo, S., Billoni, N., et al.Activation of cytoprotective prostaglandin synthase-1 by minoxidil as a possible explanation for its hair growth-stimulating effectJournal of Investigative Dermatology108205-209(1997)