5alpha-Reductase.
- Author:
Jung Se PARK
1
;
Min Chul CHO
;
Jae Seung PAICK
Author Information
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords: 5alpha-reductase; Sexual development; Prostate; Prostatic hyperplasia; Prostate neoplasms
- MeSH: 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
- From:Korean Journal of Andrology 2012;30(1):1-12
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
- 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.
