Studies of Androgen Metabolism and Action in Cultured Hair and Skin Cells

The study investigated androgen metabolism in cultured hair and skin cells to understand its role in hair growth, focusing on the enzyme 5α-reductase. It found that dihydrotestosterone (DHT) formation varied among cell types, with the highest activity in fibroblasts and the lowest in epidermal cells. The ratio of 5α-reductase to 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was significantly higher in pubic hair cells compared to scalp or epidermal cells. Despite these differences, dihydrotestosterone did not influence keratin patterns, protein synthesis, or cell proliferation in cultured hair cells. The findings suggested that while androgen metabolism differed between pubic and scalp hair cells, androgens did not directly affect hair cell proliferation or protein synthesis.