Visualizing Androgen Receptor Activity in Male and Female Mice
August 2013
in “
PloS one
”
TLDR Androgen receptors are active in many tissues of both male and female mice, not just reproductive organs.
The study developed a transgenic "ARE-Luc" mouse model to visualize androgen receptor (AR) activity in vivo using a luciferase reporter gene. High AR activity was observed in male reproductive organs and bone marrow, and in female reproductive organs and mammary glands, with both sexes showing activity in the salivary glands, eye, adipose tissue, spleen, and brain. The anti-androgen bicalutamide reduced luciferase signals in all tissues, confirming AR specificity. This model demonstrated that androgens act directly via AR in various tissues, highlighting AR's importance beyond reproductive organs and providing a tool for studying androgen signaling and testing androgenic or antiandrogenic compounds.
