Influence of androgens and age on androgen receptor and 5 alpha-reductase II transcription.
OBJECTIVE
The regulation of the androgen receptor (AR) and 5 alpha-reductase II (5RII) gene in genital skin fibroblasts is of particular interest in understanding androgen-dependent embryonic formation of external male genitalia.


METHODS
Human genital skin fibroblasts from pre- and postpubertal male individuals (aged 5 months to 51 years) were incubated with testosterone and dihydrotestosterone under various conditions to study the regulation of AR and 5RII transcript concentrations dependent on androgen concentration and donor age.


METHODS
A competitive reverse transcribed PCR (RT-PCR) protocol was designed to achieve simultaneous relative quantification (semi-quantification) of AR and 5RII mRNAs in standardized whole RNA samples from each donor.


RESULTS
Concentrations of AR and 5RII mRNAs are not influenced by androgens in genital skin fibroblasts. Moreover, comparison of AR transcript concentrations in genital skin fibroblast cell lines revealed weak variations independent of donor age, while 5RII transcription exhibited clear individual differences with a declining tendency towards higher ages.


CONCLUSIONS
The transcription of AR and 5RII is not directly regulated by testosterone or dihydrotestosterone in pre- or postpubertal human genital skin fibroblasts. However, donor age seems to play a role in gradual depression of 5RII transcription.
Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Lübeck, Germany.
O J
OJ
Hellwinkel
A
A
Müller
D
D
Struve
O
O
Hiort
D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011627:Puberty; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
D000728:Androgens; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone; D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase