Abstract
Testosterone (T) is synthesized and secreted by testicular Leydig cells. High levels of T must be maintained within the seminiferous tubules of the testes to promote and maintain the process of spermatogenesis, whereas relatively lower concentrations of T are available to peripheral tissues from the general circulation. Androgen-dependent target tissues concentrate androgens by means of the specific, high-affinity binding of T and its potent 5α-reduced metabolite, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), to intracellular androgen receptors (AR). The intranuclear binding of the androgen receptor-steroid complex to DNA leads to the regulation of androgen-dependent gene transcription. Early aspects of male sex differentiation and development during the first trimester of fetal life are dependent on the normal biological function of the AR in tissues of the internal male reproductive tract and the external genitalia.
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© 1994 Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.
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Brown, T.R. et al. (1994). Molecular Biology of Human Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome. In: Bartke, A. (eds) Function of Somatic Cells in the Testis. Serono Symposia, USA. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2638-3_27
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2638-3_27
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