Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine: http://www.expertreviews.org/
Accession information: DOI: 10.1017/S1462399402005148; 19 November 2002
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Involvement of androgens and the androgen receptor in male-pattern baldness

Justine A. Ellis, Rodney Sinclair and Stephen B. Harrap

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Figure 3. Involvement of androgens and the androgen receptor in male-pattern baldness. (a) In the non-balding scalp, testosterone enters the cell and is reduced to 5a-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by 5a-reductase. DHT binds to the androgen receptor, and the complex moves into the nucleus, where transcription control of androgen-dependent genes occurs. (b) In the balding scalp, the concentration of 5a-reductase is increased, resulting in the increased production of DHT. Because the concentration of the androgen receptor also appears to be increased, more complexes are formed between androgen receptors and DHT, augmenting the regulation of androgen-dependent genes in the nucleus. The androgen-responsive genes that are involved in male-pattern baldness are yet to be identified. Finasteride, a type-II 5a-reductase inhibitor, reduces the production of DHT by blocking the action of the type II enzyme, thereby slowing the action of the androgen receptor. The site of action of minoxidil is yet to be determined. Future therapies might involve the prevention of the binding of DHT to the androgen receptor (fig003jem).

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