Abstract
In previous studies, it has been reported that cultured skin fibroblasts have specific receptors which bind dihydrotestosterone (DHT) with high affinity and high specificity. Such a receptor has been demonstrated in adult external genitalia, in new born foreskin and in fetal sex skin, but few data are available concerning the early infancy. The present investigation was designed to find out whether the increase in testosterone (T) levels from birth to 3 months in male infants could be correlated with a variation in sex skin DHT-receptors. Sex skin fibroblasts were raised from 10 male infants aged from 20 to 180 days. Kd and Bmax values were determined in 3 different sub cultures.
No significant variation in androgen receptor concentration could be detected from birth to 6 months. The levels of DHT-receptor was similar to normal values for new born foreskin or adult external genitalia. Thus, the T rise in early infancy do not induce any variation in sex skin androgen receptors and high levels of plasma T and androgen receptors in target cells are not accompagned by clinical signs of hyperandrogenism.
These data suggest that in the neo-natal period androgen receptor levels should not be regulated by T. Some degree of androgen resistance can be evocated in male infant.
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Sultan, C., Terraza, A., Descomps, B. et al. Androgen receptors in the neo-natal period: evidence for some “physiological” androgen resistance in male infants. Pediatr Res 15, 88 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198101000-00100
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198101000-00100
