Membrane Androgen Receptors May Mediate Androgen Reinforcement

The study investigated the role of nuclear androgen receptors (ARs) in anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) self-administration using rats with the testicular feminization mutation (Tfm) and wild-type (WT) littermates. Both Tfm and WT rats self-administered dihydrotestosterone (DHT) similarly, indicating that nuclear ARs were not essential for AAS self-administration. Additionally, hamsters showed a preference for DHT and DHT conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA), but not for BSA alone, suggesting that androgen self-administration might be mediated by plasma membrane receptors rather than nuclear ARs.