Dihydrotestosterone in the blood
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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In most androgen-sensitive tissues, testosterone is converted under the action of 5α-reductase into dihydrotestosterone, a more active form of androgen. Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in the cell bind to the same receptor, but the affinity of testosterone to the receptor is significantly lower than that of dihydrotestosterone. Only dihydrotestosterone affects the prostate gland, skull bones and hair growth. DGT is metabolized to 3α-androstenediol-glucuronide.
Reference values (norm) of concentration of dihydrotestosterone in blood serum
|
Age |
Floor |
DHT | |
|
Ng / dL |
Nmol / l | ||
|
Newborns |
Male |
5-60 |
0.17-2.06 |
|
Women's |
<2-15 |
<0.07-0.52 | |
|
Prepubertal age (1-10 years) |
<3 |
<0.1 | |
|
Sexual maturation (Tanner stages) | |||
|
1 |
Male |
<3 |
<0.1 |
|
Women's |
<3 |
<0.1 | |
|
2 |
Male |
3-17 |
0.1-0.58 |
|
Women's |
5-12 |
0.17-0.41 | |
|
3 |
Male |
8-33 |
0.27-1.14 |
|
Women's |
7-19 |
0.24-0.65 | |
|
4 |
Male |
22-52 |
0.76-1.79 |
|
Women's |
4-13 |
0.14-0.45 | |
|
5 |
Male |
24-65 |
0.83-2.24 |
|
Women's |
3-18 |
0.10-0.62 | |
|
Adults |
Male |
30-85 |
1.03-2.92 |
|
Women's |
4-22 |
0.14-0.76 | |
Androgens play a central role in the development of the prostate and ancillary in the formation of benign hyperplasia (in persons castrated to the full development of the prostate gland during puberty, benign hyperplasia never develops). It is established that when testosterone enters the cells of the prostate gland, it undergoes metabolic transformations. More than 95% of testosterone in the prostate gland is metabolized by the enzyme 5α-reductase in dihydrotestosterone, which, interacting with androgen receptors, stimulates the synthesis of specific proteins (growth factors). These growth factors cause proliferation of prostate cells and simultaneously slow down the death of older cells. Normally, the testosterone level and the formation of dihydrotestosterone maintain a constant balance between the death of old and the formation of new cells. If an excess of DHT is formed, this leads to an increase in the level of growth factors and uncontrolled growth of the prostate gland - benign hyperplasia. The important role of male sex hormones in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia is evidenced by data indicating that the use of a significant amount of alcohol leads to a decrease in testosterone concentration in the blood, an increase in its clearance and is combined with a decrease in the frequency of prostatectomy for this disease. At present, the important role of dihydrotestosterone in the development and progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia has been proved, therefore the directed decrease in its concentration in the blood has therapeutic significance.
The concentration of dihydrotestosterone in the blood serum is closely related to the concentration of testosterone. The dihydrotestosterone / testosterone ratio is decreased during pregnancy.
The concentration of dihydrotestosterone in the blood is lowered with insufficiency of 5a-reductase and hypogonadism. An increase in the concentration of dihydrotestosterone is characteristic of hirsutism (this indicator is not used to evaluate the flow of hirsutism, since the concentration of dihydrotestosterone in the serum does not reflect its intracellular content).
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