Subnormal Tissue 3α-Androstanediol and Androsterone in Prostatic Hyperplasia*

Abstract

We investigated the role of 3α-androstanediol (3α-diol) in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and the apparent equilibrium of enzymes which metabolize it in normal and hyperplastic prostatic tissue of humans. We determined the endogenous concentrations of 3α-diol, androsterone, its 3α,17-keto metabolite or precursor, and 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), its 3-keto,17β-hydroxy product or precursor, by RIA after extraction and paper chromatography of the androgens from normal and hyperplastic prostate glands. The mean concentrations of 3α-diol and androsterone were about one-third of normal in BPH. The mean ratio of the concentration of DHT to 3α-diol was significantly higher (P < 0.005) than normal in BPH, whereas no statistical difference was observed for the mean ratio of the tissue levels of 3α-diol to androsterone in the two groups. Our data do not support the postulate that 3α-diol is causally related to the development of BPH. However, they indicate that the apparent equilibrium of the 3α-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase favors the formation of the 3-keto-oxidized product, DHT, which may have relevance to the occurrence of the renewed growth of the prostate of aging men.