Is The Metabolism Of Testosterone To 5α-Dihydrotestosterone Required For Androgen Action In The Skin?

The study from 1982 examined the necessity of testosterone conversion to 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT) for androgen action in the skin by analyzing testosterone uptake and metabolism in rat skin and other tissues. It found that while the skin absorbed and retained testosterone similarly to other androgen target organs, the predominant steroid in the skin remained testosterone over time, contrasting with the ventral prostate where 5α-DHT was the major metabolite. Additionally, hypophysectomy increased testosterone metabolism in the skin without affecting 5α-DHT levels. These results indicate that the conversion to 5α-DHT might not be as critical for the skin's androgen action, especially in sebaceous glands, as it is in the prostate. This could have implications for the treatment of skin-related androgen-dependent conditions.