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Combining Behavioral Endocrinology and Experimental Economics: Testosterone and Social Decision Making
11:51

Combining Behavioral Endocrinology and Experimental Economics: Testosterone and Social Decision Making

Published on: March 2, 2011

Mechanisms of disease: pharmacogenetics of testosterone therapy in hypogonadal men

Michael Zitzmann1

  • 1Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Domagkstr. 11, D-48149 Münster, Germany. michael.zitzmann@ukmuenster.de

Nature Clinical Practice. Urology
|March 10, 2007
PubMed

Insights

The androgen receptor gene

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology and genetics research.
  • Investigating the role of the androgen receptor gene in human physiology.

Background:

  • Androgen insensitivity can arise from mutations in the androgen receptor.
  • The CAG repeat polymorphism in the androgen receptor gene is known to influence androgen effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the clinical significance of CAG repeat polymorphism in androgen receptor gene.
  • To understand how this polymorphism affects androgenicity in healthy men and its implications for testosterone treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of CAG repeat polymorphism in the androgen receptor gene.
  • Correlation of repeat length with androgen effects in various tissues and psychological traits.
  • Assessment of the influence of CAG repeats on testosterone substitution therapy.

Main Results:

  • Longer CAG repeat tracts in the androgen receptor gene are associated with less pronounced androgen effects in men with similar testosterone levels.
  • The CAG repeat polymorphism significantly modulates androgenicity across different tissues and psychological traits.
  • Testosterone substitution therapy effectiveness is markedly influenced by the number of CAG repeats.

Conclusions:

  • The CAG repeat polymorphism in the androgen receptor gene plays a crucial role in modulating androgen action in humans.
  • Pharmacogenetic tailoring of testosterone treatment based on this polymorphism is a promising future direction for managing hypogonadal men.
  • Individualized treatment thresholds and dosages for testosterone therapy may be determined by androgen receptor CAG repeat length.

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