title: Dihydrotestosterone and testosterone throughout the life span of Czech men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The dihydrotestosterone:testosterone ratio seems to be an important factor in the expression of androgenic activity, especially in the prostate and pilosebaceous unit. Whereas the decline of testosterone (T) in aging men is well known, controversial data can be found in literature concerning the age dependence of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels. Data from the database of the Institute of Endocrinology served as the basis for the definition of the life span curve for the ratio dihydrotestosterone : testosterone.
  
  
  METHODS
  The results of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone obtained immunoassays from 10 251 male patients were used in the construction of the curve.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data show that after a peak of DHT:T in infancy and a subsequent decrease in puberty, the ratio of both androgens remains practically without change from approx. 20 years of age till old age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High DHT:T ratio in infancy decreases at puberty and throughout the entire reproductive period of life this ration remains practically constant.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic. lstarka@endo.cz
authors.forename: Luboslav
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stárka
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dusková
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D000505:Alopecia / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018153:Czech Republic; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008136:Longevity / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011469:Prostatic Diseases / Q000097:blood; D011627:Puberty / Q000097:blood; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone