[Effect of cyproterone acetate on the 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase activity of cutaneous fibroblasts in culture]

Abstract

In men, parallel variations in urinary 3 alpha 5 alpha androstane 17 beta diol with the amount of sex skin fibroblast DHT receptors rise the question of a relationship of 3 ketosteroid reductase activity and specific DHT binding. To test this hypothesis, we measured 3 alpha 5 alpha androstane 17 beta diol biosynthesis in cultured sex skin fibroblasts, in the presence of high amounts of cyproterone acetate which competes with DHT for its receptor: when 95% of DHT is displaced by cyproterone acetate, the 3 keto steroid reductase activity remains unchanged. These results suggest that the relationship of 3-keto-steroid reductase activity and androgen receptors is unlikely.