Increased 5. cap alpha. -reductase activity in idiopathic hirsutism
In vitro, genital skin 5..cap alpha..-reductase activity (5..cap alpha..-RA) was measured in ten hirsute women with normal androgen levels (idiopathic hirsutism (IH)) and in ten hirsute women with elevated androgen levels (polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO)) in order to determine the influence of secreted androgens on 5..cap alpha..-RA. In vitro 5..cap alpha..-RA was assessed by incubations of skin with /sup 14/C-testosterone (T) for 2 hours, after which steroids were separated and the radioactivity of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and 5..cap alpha..-androstane 3..cap alpha..-17..beta..-estradiol (3..cap alpha..-diol) in specific eluates were determined. All androgens were normal in IH with the exception of higher levels of 3..cap alpha..-diol glucuronide which were similar to the levels of PCO. The conversion ratio (CR) of T to DHT in IH and PCO were similar, yet significantly greater than the CR of control subjects. The CR of T to 3..cap alpha..-diol in IH and PCO were similar, yet higher than in control subjects. Serum androgens showed no correlation with 5..cap alpha..-RA, while the CR of T to DHT showed a significant positive correlation with the Ferriman and Gallwey score. The increased 5..cap alpha..-RA in IH appears to be independent of serum androgen levels and is, therefore, an inherent abnormality. The term idiopathic is a misnomer, because hirsutism in these patients may be explained on the basis of increased skin 5..cap alpha..-RA.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles
- OSTI ID:
- 5964611
- Journal Information:
- Fert. Steril.; (United States), Journal Name: Fert. Steril.; (United States) Vol. 43:1; ISSN FESTA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANDROGENS
ANDROSTANES
ANIMALS
BODY
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
DISEASES
ENDOCRINE DISEASES
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ENZYMES
ESTRADIOL
ESTRANES
ESTROGENS
ETIOLOGY
FEMALE GENITALS
FEMALES
HAIR
HORMONES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IN VITRO
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
KETONES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
MAN
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
PATIENTS
PRIMATES
SAMPLING
SKIN
SKIN DISEASES
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
TESTOSTERONE
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES
WOMEN