Korean J Androl.  2012 Apr;30(1):1-12. 10.5534/kja.2012.30.1.1.

5alpha-Reductase

• Park JS
• Cho MC
• Paick JS

• KMID: 2298803
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5534/kja.2012.30.1.1

Abstract

Androgen acts via the androgen receptor and can play a critical role in the development and growth of the prostate and the pathophysiology of prostatic diseases. Testosterone is the most abundant circulating androgen and is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a more potent androgen, by steroid 5alpha-reductase. There are two 5alpha-reductase isoenzymes, type 1 and type 2, in humans and animals. Type 2 5alpha-reductase predominates in the prostate. While deficiency of type 2 5alpha-reductase causes male pseudohermaphroditism, increased DHT has been implicated in benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer. The aim of this article is to highlight the significance of 5alpha-reductase in the development and growth of the prostate and pathogenesis of prostatic diseases.

Keyword

5alpha-reductase; Sexual development; Prostate; Prostatic hyperplasia; Prostate neoplasms

MeSH Terms

46, XY Disorders of Sex Development
Animals
Dihydrotestosterone
Growth and Development
Humans
Isoenzymes
Prostate
Prostatic Diseases
Prostatic Hyperplasia
Prostatic Neoplasms
Receptors, Androgen
Sexual Development
Testosterone
Dihydrotestosterone
Isoenzymes
Receptors, Androgen
Testosterone

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