Predominant Expression of 5 Alpha-Reductase Type 1 in Pubic Skin from Normal Subjects and Hirsute Patients

    Chidi Mestayer, Isabelle Berthaut, M. C. Portois, Françoise Wright, Frédérique Kuttenn, Irène Mowszowicz, P Mauvais-Jarvis
    Image of study
    TLDR The main enzyme found in pubic skin that could be targeted to treat excessive hair growth is 5 alpha-R2.
    The study from 1996 investigated the expression of two isoforms of the enzyme 5 alpha-reductase (5 alpha-R), which is responsible for converting testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), in genital and pubic skin fibroblasts from normal men, normal women, and hirsute patients. Using Northern blot and RT-PCR techniques, the researchers found that both 5 alpha-R1 and 5 alpha-R2 messenger ribonucleic acids are expressed in these tissues. However, specific inhibitor studies revealed that 5 alpha-R2 is the predominant isoform in pubic skin across all groups. This finding suggests the potential for using specific 5 alpha-R1 inhibitors as a treatment for idiopathic hirsutism.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 1000+ results

      community Creatine is the opposite of minoxidil !

      in Research/Science  323 upvotes 4 months ago
      Creatine may counteract minoxidil's hair growth effects by closing potassium ATP channels, potentially leading to hair loss in predisposed individuals. Despite anecdotal reports, there is no conclusive evidence linking creatine to hair loss.

      community Proof that finasteride messes with neurosteroids

      in Research/Science  230 upvotes 1 year ago
      Finasteride can impact neurosteroids, potentially causing depression and other side effects in some users. Despite these concerns, many continue using it for hair loss, with some switching to topical applications to mitigate side effects.
      FCE 28260: A Forgotten 5α-Reductase Inhibitor

      community FCE 28260: A Forgotten 5α-Reductase Inhibitor

      by nkrata in Research  330 upvotes 1 year ago
      FCE 28260 (PNU 156765), an under-explored 5α-reductase inhibitor, showcases promising results in research by Giudici et al., outperforming well-known treatments like Finasteride in reducing the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Its superior efficacy, demonstrated through lower IC50 values in both natural and human recombinant enzyme studies, suggests it could offer more effective management of DHT-related conditions. Additionally, its lower molecular weight hints at better potential for topical application, potentially offering advantages in treating conditions such as androgenic alopecia. Despite its potential, it has not advanced in development, possibly due to financial limitations, leaving its therapeutic prospects and side effect profile largely unexplored.

    Related Research

    7 / 7 results