Skip to main content
PMC home page
The Journal of Clinical Investigation logoLink to The Journal of Clinical Investigation
. 1969 Feb;48(2):371–379. doi: 10.1172/JCI105994

The conversion of testosterone to 5α-Androstan-17β-ol-3-one (dihydrotestosterone) by Skin Slices Of man

Jean D Wilson 1, Joanne D Walker 1
PMCID: PMC322229  PMID: 5249746

Abstract

The conversion of testosterone-1,2-3H to dihydrotestosterone by slices of human skin obtained from various anatomical sites in 112 normal subjects and three individuals with the syndrome of testicular feminization has been measured under standardized conditions. Very low rates of dihydrotestosterone formation were observed in sites obtained from the mons or from miscellaneous areas of the trunk and limbs of the control subjects. The mean rates of conversion were very high, however, in slices of skin obtained from several perineal sites (labia majora, scrotum, prepuce, and clitoris). Furthermore, as measured here, the rate of dihydrotestosterone formation by prepuce rises during the 3 months after birth and then falls progressively thereafter, reaching a level in the adult that is almost as low as that observed in the slices of nonperineal skin from all ages. In the patients with testicular feminization dihydrotestosterone formation by slices of skin obtained from the mons was within the normal range, whereas the rates observed in labia majora were lower than the average values obtained in the normal subjects.

Full text

PDF
371

Images in this article

373Image
on p.373
373Image
on p.373

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Anderson K. M., Liao S. Selective retention of dihydrotestosterone by prostatic nuclei. Nature. 1968 Jul 20;219(5151):277–279. doi: 10.1038/219277a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bruchovsky N., Wilson J. D. The conversion of testosterone to 5-alpha-androstan-17-beta-ol-3-one by rat prostate in vivo and in vitro. J Biol Chem. 1968 Apr 25;243(8):2012–2021. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bruchovsky N., Wilson J. D. The intranuclear binding of testosterone and 5-alpha-androstan-17-beta-ol-3-one by rat prostate. J Biol Chem. 1968 Nov 25;243(22):5953–5960. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. DINGMAN J. F., JENKINS W. H. Dihydrotestosterone-hypocholesterolemic androgenic hormone. Metabolism. 1962 Feb;11:273–275. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. FARNSWORTH W. E., BROWN J. R. Metabolism of testosterone by the human prostate. JAMA. 1963 Feb 9;183:436–439. doi: 10.1001/jama.1963.63700060003011a. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. FARNSWORTH W. E., BROWN J. R. TESTOSTERONE METABOLISM IN THE PROSTATE. Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. 1963 Oct;12:323–329. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. FOLCH J., LEES M., SLOANE STANLEY G. H. A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipides from animal tissues. J Biol Chem. 1957 May;226(1):497–509. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Gomez E. C., Hsia S. L. In vitro metabolism of testosterone-4-14C and delta-4-androstene-3,17-dione-4-14C in human skin. Biochemistry. 1968 Jan;7(1):24–32. doi: 10.1021/bi00841a004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. McGUIRE J. S., Jr, TOMKINS G. M. The effects of thyroxin administration on the enzymic reduction of delta 4-3-ketosteroids. J Biol Chem. 1959 Apr;234(4):791–794. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. PEARLMAN W. H., PEARLMAN M. R. The metabolism in vivo of Delta 4-androstene-3, 17-dione-7-H3; its localization in the ventral prostate and other tissues of the rat. J Biol Chem. 1961 May;236:1321–1327. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. SAUNDERS F. J. SOME ASPECTS OF RELATION OF STRUCTURE OF STEROIDS TO THEIR PROSTATE--STIMULATING EFFECTS. Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. 1963 Oct;12:139–159. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. SOUTHREN A. L., ROSS H., SHARMA D. C., GORDON G., WEINGOLD A. B., DORFMAN R. I. PLASMA CONCENTRATION AND BIOSYNTHESIS OF TESTOSTERONE IN THE SYNDROME OF FEMINIZING TESTES. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1965 Apr;25:518–525. doi: 10.1210/jcem-25-4-518. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Shimazaki J., Kurihara H., Ito Y., Shida K. Metabolism of testosterone in prostate. 2. Separation of prostatic 17-beta-ol-dehydrogenase and 5-alpha-reductase. Gunma J Med Sci. 1965 Dec;14(4):326–333. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Shimazaki J., Kurihara H., Ito Y., Shida K. Testosterone metabolism in prostate; formation of androstan-17-beta-ol-3-one and androst-4-ene-3, 17-dione, and inhibitory effect of natural and synthetic estrogens. Gunma J Med Sci. 1965 Dec;14(4):313–325. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. VAN SCOTT E. J. Mechanical separation of the epidermis from the corium. J Invest Dermatol. 1952 May;18(5):377–379. doi: 10.1038/jid.1952.43. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Investigation are provided here courtesy of American Society for Clinical Investigation

RESOURCES