Dihydrotestosterone

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) can be produced directly by the testes, or it can be converted from androgens and estrogens as precursors by surrounding tissues. Testosterone can be converted into DHT by the action of 5α-reductase, and the biological activity of DHT is 2 to 3 times that of T. DHT can promote the normal development of the external genitals and prostate, promote the maturation of sperm in the paratestis, and facilitate the appearance and maintenance of secondary sexual characteristics. DHT binds to specific proteins in the cytoplasm, forms a DHT-receptor complex and moves to the nucleus, where it undergoes structural changes and binds to nuclear chromatin to produce male physiological effects. The metabolism of DHT is mainly reduced by 3α-ketosteroid dehydrogenase to 3α-androstanediol, and then combined with glucuronide to form androstanediol glucuronide, which is excreted from the urine.