title: Increased 5 alpha-reductase activity in idiopathic hirsutism.
abstract: In vitro, genital skin 5 alpha-reductase activity (5 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 alpha-RA. In vitro 5 alpha-RA was assessed by incubations of skin with 14C-testosterone (T) for 2 hours, after which steroids were separated and the radioactivity of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and 5 alpha-androstane 3 alpha-17 beta-estradiol (3 alpha-diol) in specific eluates were determined. All androgens were normal in IH with the exception of higher levels of 3 alpha-diol glucuronide which were similar to the levels of PCO. The conversion ratio (CR) of T to DHT in IH (17.18% +/- 4.6%) and PCO (17.86% +/- 5.2%) were similar, yet significantly greater than the CR of control subjects (4.48% +/- 0.36% P less than 0.01). The CR of T to 3 alpha-diol in IH (8.00% +/- 1.38%) and PCO (10.36% +/- 1.0%) were similar, yet higher than in control subjects (2.96% +/- 0.32%; P less than 0.05). Serum androgens showed no correlation with 5 alpha-RA, while the CR of T to DHT showed a significant positive correlation with the Ferriman and Gallwey score (r = 0.61; P less than 0.01). The increased 5 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 alpha-RA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Serafini
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lobo
mesh_terms: D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis*; D000328:Adult; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000201:enzymology; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000201:enzymology; D012867:Skin / Q000201:enzymology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; C028895:androstane-3,17-diol glucuronide; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase