Stimulation of aromatase activity by dihydrotestosterone in human skin fibroblasts.

In order to study the regulation of aromatase activity by androgens in cultured fibroblasts derived from genital skin of normal prepubertal boys, aromatase activity was evaluated in the presence of various concentrations of non-aromatizable androgen DHT(5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone). The estrogen formation was assayed by an enzymatic method, after 24 h incubation of the cells with 10(-6) M androstenedione. Aromatase activity was stimulated 3- to 20-fold by DHT at concentrations 10(-10) and 10(-9) M. It was necessary to preincubate the cells with DHT for 48 h in order to bring about this stimulation. The stimulatory effect was not significant after preincubation for only 24 h. The basal value of aromatase activity was in the range of 8 +/- 1.2 pmol/mg protein/day (mean +/- SEM), while the maximal stimulation 1043 +/- 46 pmol/mg protein/day was obtained at the concentration of 10(-8) M DHT. This stimulation was partially blocked with cyproterone acetate at level of 20 +/- 4 pmol/mg protein/day; stimulation of aromatase activity by DHT could thus be mediated by the androgen receptor. This stimulatory effect was prevented by incubation of the cells with cycloheximide or actinomycin D, suggesting that DHT acts to increase aromatase activity in cultured fibroblasts by inducing the synthesis of new proteinaceous material. In vitro regulation of aromatase activity by androgens could contribute to a new approach to the extraglandular formation of estrogen.

[Male pseudohermaphroditism caused by partial insensitivity to androgens. Clinical and biochemical heterogeneity]. / Pseudo-hermaphrodisme masculin par insensibilité partielle aux androgènes. Hétérogénéité clinique et biochimique.

Male pseudohermaphroditism due to partial androgen insensitivity (PAI) may be suspected clinically in case of incomplete masculinization of external genitalia in spite of age related plasma androgen levels. In 25 children or adolescents in whom PAI was suspected, the 5 alpha-reductase activity of external genitalia fibroblasts, the number of androgen receptor sites (Bmax) and the affinity of receptors for dihydrotestosterone (Kd) were studied. Clinical expression of PAI is highly polymorphic (Prader's type I to type IV), when most children (18/25) were considered as males. In a single patient the very low 5 alpha-reductase activity permitted the diagnosis of 5 alpha-reductase deficiency. The number of receptor sites (fmoles/mg DNA) varied from 0 to 730. Mean Bmax of patients (282 +/- 187 fmoles/mg DNA) was statistically lower than that of normal subjects (642 +/- 220 fmoles/mg DNA), p less than 0.05. The 5 cases in whom receptor concentrations were normal may be related to a qualitative abnormality of the androgen receptor or to a "post-receptor" defect. On the contrary no significant differences in Kd values were found. Correlation between sexual ambiguity and the number of measured receptors was not possible. These results emphasize the clinical and biochemical heterogeneity of PAI. Nevertheless, the decrease in number of androgen receptor sites remains the major data for the biochemical diagnosis of PAI. Study of post-receptor "markers" (3 alpha-reductase activity, aromatase, collagen) might allow better analysis of cases with PAI in whom androgen receptor concentrations are normal.