Androgen receptors in male sex tissues of rats and humans

Abstract

A brief description of physicochemical properties of the androgen receptors in the various target tissues is given. It is suggested that androgen receptors in all organs and species are very similar if not identical. It is also suggested that apparent differences in steroid binding are not due to differences in steroid specificity of receptors, but rather due to organ specific differences in target tissue metabolism. A short discussion of our studies on androgen receptors in the prostate, epididymis and testis of human being is also included. The properties of these receptors are similar, if not identical to those described in rats, and we have not been able to demonstrate differences in androgen receptors of non-neoplastic and neoplastic tissue. From studies on testosterone metabolism it is demonstrated that human prostate is metabolizing testosterone to DHT much faster than the seminal vesicles. Furthermore, there is a drastic reduction in DHT formation in tissue from prostatic cancer compared to normal and hyperplastic prostatic tissue.