ACTIVITY OF TESTOSTERONE 5α-REDUCTASE IN THE HAIR FOLLICLES OF WOMEN WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARIES

Abstract

Departments of *Obstetrics and Gynecology and †Dermatology and ‡Institute for Cancer Research, Osaka University Medical School, Fukushima-ku, Osaka 553, Japan (Received 23 February 1978) Hirsutism is often seen in patients with polycystic ovaries and it has been suggested that it may be caused by excessive production of androgens or raised concentrations of androgens in the plasma (Kirschner & Bardin, 1972; Kuttenn, Mowszovicz, Schaison & Mauvais-Jarvis, 1977). Hirsutism may also be attributable to altered androgen metabolism in the skin since human skin and its appendages, such as sebaceous glands and hair follicles, are capable of converting testosterone to 17β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-3-one (dihydrotestosterone, DHT) and are considered to be target tissues for androgens (Sansonne & Reisner, 1971; Takayasu & Adachi, 1972; Kuttenn & Mauvais-Jarvis, 1975). In the present study, the concentration of testosterone in the plasma and the activity of 5α-reductase in the hair follicles of seven patients with polycystic ovaries and definite hirsutism