Characterization of the testicular abnormality in 5α-reductase deficiency

Larry Johnson, Fredrick W. George, William B. Neaves, Ira M. Rosenthal, Ronald A. Christensen, Anton Decristoforo, Hans Udo Schweikert, Mark V. Sauer, Mark Leshin, Jim Griffin III, Jean D. Wilson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

60 Scopus citations

Abstract

The testes of five phenotypic women (from four families) with 5α-reductase deficiency were studied. In one of the patients, the enzyme deficiency was similar in the testis and epididymis and in fibroblasts cultured from the labia majora. In testes from four of the patients, the concentrations of the 5α-reduced steroids dihydrotestosterone and 3α-androstanediol were less than 10% of those in normal subjects. We conclude that the testis is involved in 5α-reductase deficiency. Impaired spermatogenesis was evident in testicular biopsies from all five subjects, and in two, sperm production, as estimated in testicular homogenates, was less than 10% of normal. The extent to which spermatogenic arrest is due to 5α-reductase deficiency or testicular maldescent is not clear.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1091-1099
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume63
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1986

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Biochemistry
  • Endocrinology
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Biochemistry, medical

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Characterization of the testicular abnormality in 5α-reductase deficiency'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this