Intranuclear androgen concentrations in facial skin

The concentrations of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and testosterone were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in the crude nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions of facial skin containing large sebaceous glands. The data obtained were compared with those obtained with specimens from non-target areas. The intranuclear levels of DHT and testosterone in facial skin were 0.03 +/- 0.3 pg/micrograms DNA and 0.35 +/- 0.03 pg/micrograms DNA, respectively levels in genital skin. By contrast, both androgens were below detection by RIA in non-target skin. There was no significant difference between men and women with respect to the intranuclear androgen levels in facial skin. These findings support the view that the sebaceous gland is a typical androgen target organ irrespective of sex.