Androgens & Anti-Androgens Flashcards
Androgens
19C compound derived from cholesterol
Androgenic Precursors
- DHEA: dehydroepiandrosterone
- Androstnedione
- inactive; must be converted
DHEA: dehydroepiandrosterone
- androgenic precursor
- adrenal cortex; testes
- inactive
Androstenedione
- androgenic precursor
- adrenal cortex; testes
- inactive
Androgens
Name two
- Testosterone
- DHT: dihydrotestosterone
Testosterone
- testes
- MOST ABUNDANT
DHT
Dihydrotestosterone
- androgen target cells and tissues
- – paracrine/autocrine manner
- MOST POTENT natural androgen
Adult male [testosterone]
[T]testes 100x > [T]serum
17-B-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17B-HSD)
- converts DHEA and androstenedione to testosterone
- expressed in testicular leydig cells
5-a-reductase
testosterone -> DHT
- androgen-responsive target tissues
- most DHT production occurs outside the testes
How much testosterone is produced in the adrenal cortex?
<5%
Aromatase (CYP19)
androgens are OBLIGATE precursors to estrone and estradiol
- more fat = more estradiol
Androgen Receptor: males express
only 1
Regulation of Androgen Production from Testes
- Hypothalamus = pulse generator
- – GnRH: hypothalamus -> pituitary (+)
- FSH: pituitary -> testes/seminiferous tubules (+)
- LH: pituitary -> testes/Leydig cells
- – C -> T
- Testosterone: testes -> pituitary & hypothalamus (-)
Testosterone secreted by Leydig cells play critical role in ____
spermatogenesis
Androgen Signaling Pathways
1) ligand binding triggers loss of heat shock proteins
2) nuclear localization
3) coactivators lead to transcription
T -> DHT
5-a-reductase
- DHT binds 5x more tightly to AR
T -> Estradiol
Aromatase
Androgen Actions
Developmental (males)
- Embryonic/Fetal: masculinize internal and external male genitalia
- Puberty
- – regulate growth and development of male reproductive tract
- – regulate linear growth and physical development
- – imprint male behavior and libido
Androgen Actions
Metabolic Adult Males
Bone
- maintains and strengthens bone mass by increasing osteoblast proliferation and decreasing bone resorption by osteoclasts
Androgen Actions
Metabolic Adult Males
Muscle
- increases protein synthesis
- increases size and length of muscle fibers
- increases muscle mass
Androgen Actions
Metabolic Adult Males
Blood
- increases erythropoietin
- increases maturation of erythrocytes
- increases number of red blood cells
Androgen Actions
Metabolic Adult Males
skin
increases sebum production in sebaceous glands
Androgen Actions
Metabolic Adult Males
Liver
- increases LDL
- decreases HDL
- implications for CV function
Androgen Actions
Metabolic Adult Males
Reproduction
- maintains and regulates the male reproductive tract
Androgen Actions
Metabolic Adult
Females
- normal patterns of body hair growth, muscle growth, libido
- maintain bone density
Breakdown of Creation of Androgens in Females
50% adrenal cortex
50% ovaries
Therapeutic uses of ANdrogens
- Male Hypogonadism
- Andropause
Male Hypogonadism
- defect in testicular function that leads to testosterone deficiency
Andropause
- male senescence; late onset hypogonadism; LOH
Androgen Replacement Therapy for Andropause
CONTROVERSIAL
Therapeutic Androgenic Drug Preparations
- when oral, rapidly degraded by liver, limiting oral bioavailability
Effective androgen therapy requires:
1) testosterone in a slow continuously absorbed form
2) chemically modified testosterone derivatives that bypass metabolism in the body
3 types of T modifications
1) Type A: esterification of C17 hydroxyl group
2) Type B: alkylation of the C17a position
3) Type C: modifications of the A, B, or C rings
Type B+C= very effective