Dihydrotestosterone

Also known as:  DHT

Dihydrotestosterone is a Hormone that is an oxidation product of Testosterone.

 View the Metabolic Pathway for Dihydrotestosterone

Hair

 Dihydrotestosterone may cause Hair Folliclesto go into their resting (telogen) phase which results in Male Pattern Baldness - DHT is manufactured endogenously in the Sebaceous Glands and then attaches to Androgen Receptors on the Dermal Papilla of the Hair Follicle and shrinks the Hair Follicle, reducing the diameter of the hair shaft and restricting the nutrient supply to the Hair.  The underlying mechanism for this process is that the body’s Immune System treats the Dihydrotestosterone that has attached to the Hair Follicle as an Antigen (i.e. as a foreign body) and begins to destroy the Hair Follicle, subsequently causing Hair Loss.  This occurs from DHT activating Transforming Growth Factor-beta, which in turn activates Caspase 3, which in turn activates Protein Kinase C.  ^[1]

 Dihydrotestosterone (paradoxically) accelerates the development of Hirsutism (i.e. excessive body Hair growth especially on the Back and from the Ears).

 Binding of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to Androgen Receptors on Hair Follicles stimulates the production of excessive amounts of Sebum.

Immune System

 Dihydrotestosterone may stimulate the growth of Prostate Cancer cells (it is presently believed that DHT is five times more potent in stimulating Prostate Cancer cell growth than Testosterone).  ^[2]

Sexual System

 Excessive serum Dihydrotestosterone may be a principal cause of Enlarged Prostate.