5α-Reductase Isozymes in the Prostate.

ABSTRACT: 5α-reductases convert testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). There are two 5α-reductase isozymes, type 1 and type 2 in humans and animals. Mutations in type 2 isozyme with decreased enzymatic activity cause male pseudohermaphroditism. The affected 46XY individuals have high normal or elevated plasma testosterone levels with low normal or decreased DHT levels, resulting in an elevated testosterone/DHT ratios. They are born with ambiguous external genitalia and normal Wolffian differentiation. Their prostate is small and rudimentary, and plasma levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) are low or undetectable in adulthood. Prostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) have never been reported in these patients. Similar defects in prostate development are observed in animals with

SUBMITTER: Zhu YS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2386416 | biostudies-literature | 2005

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature